Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos offers a press conference at Narino presidential palace in Bogota, on June 16, 2014.
Bogota:
Sexual violence now may be prosecuted as a crime against humanity in Colombia, where President Juan Manuel Santos signed a law to stem assaults against women during the ongoing civil war.
Santos signed the measure late Wednesday as his government struggles to end a half century of armed conflict with leftist rebels.
The measure, in addition to stiffening penalties for sexual assault, provides free counseling for victims, as well as addressing forced sterilizations and unwanted pregnancies resulting from rape.
According to government figures, nearly 5,000 women have been sexually abused in the context of the conflict.
"Colombian society is taking a decisive step to tackle one of the most shameful acts of humanity and undoubtedly of our country -- sexual violence, in particular when it is carried out in the context of the armed conflict," Santos declared said.
With its explosive cocktail of rebels, paramilitary militia and criminal gangs, the conflict has left more than 220,000 people dead and forced five million to leave their homes over the past fifty years.
Founded in the 1960s, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and smaller National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels have been the perennial protagonists in Latin America's longest guerrilla war.
Santos, re-elected Sunday to a second four-year term, staked his presidency on a negotiated peace with the rebels and his government is currently in talks with both groups.
"No matter if 10, 20, 30 or 50 years have passed -- the justice system will still be able to probe and prosecute the perpetrators of these crimes," Santos said.
"We must convict the perpetrators, whether they're guerrillas, former members of militias or criminal groups, or even state agents."
Colombia since November 2012 has been in talks in Havana with the FARC, the country's biggest insurgency.
Bogota earlier this month opened peace negotiations with the ELN.
Santos signed the measure late Wednesday as his government struggles to end a half century of armed conflict with leftist rebels.
The measure, in addition to stiffening penalties for sexual assault, provides free counseling for victims, as well as addressing forced sterilizations and unwanted pregnancies resulting from rape.
According to government figures, nearly 5,000 women have been sexually abused in the context of the conflict.
"Colombian society is taking a decisive step to tackle one of the most shameful acts of humanity and undoubtedly of our country -- sexual violence, in particular when it is carried out in the context of the armed conflict," Santos declared said.
With its explosive cocktail of rebels, paramilitary militia and criminal gangs, the conflict has left more than 220,000 people dead and forced five million to leave their homes over the past fifty years.
Founded in the 1960s, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and smaller National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels have been the perennial protagonists in Latin America's longest guerrilla war.
Santos, re-elected Sunday to a second four-year term, staked his presidency on a negotiated peace with the rebels and his government is currently in talks with both groups.
"No matter if 10, 20, 30 or 50 years have passed -- the justice system will still be able to probe and prosecute the perpetrators of these crimes," Santos said.
"We must convict the perpetrators, whether they're guerrillas, former members of militias or criminal groups, or even state agents."
Colombia since November 2012 has been in talks in Havana with the FARC, the country's biggest insurgency.
Bogota earlier this month opened peace negotiations with the ELN.
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