A group of foreign, female diplomats have spoken up about the recent rape of a young girl in Albania.
They posted a joint statement on all social media channels including Twitter and Instagram. The post was shared by Swedish Ambassador Elsa Hastad, US Ambassador Yuri Kim, Dutch Ambassador Gjuese Korthals Altes, French Ambassador Elisabeth Barsacq, and UN Resident Coordinator Fiona McCluney.
We join activists & others who speak out 2condemn recent rape of a young girl. Rape is a criminal offence & serious human rights violation. Priority now: 1) social & health services for girl’s full recovery. 2) justice. End violence against women. NO means NO #tinukjevetem pic.twitter.com/64PWtTMY2f
— Elsa Håstad (@EHstad) May 26, 2021
It read:
“We join activists and others who speak out to condemn the recent rape of a young girl. Rape is a criminal offence and a serious human rights violation. Priority now: 1) social and health services for the girl’s full recovery 2) justice. End violence against women. NO means NO.”
Their statement came after a 15-year-old girl was raped over a period of four months by between five and eight men. She was also blackmailed into ongoing abuse by the pedophiles who were aged between 17 and 44.
This is the latest in a long line of similar cases whereby men have raped or coerced a woman or child into sex and then threatened to release images of the rape, if she doesn’t submit to more rape from him and other men.
The incident has sparked protests around the country including Tirana, Shkodra, Rreshen and Gjirokaster.
Feminist groups accuse the state of failing women by not providing adequate support, education, assistance, and protection to women and girls. They called on the government to make sweeping reforms to ensure the safety of vulnerable groups, but so far, politicians and lawmakers are yet to respond.
The protest in Tirana made headlines after one woman stripped naked and stood in Skanderbeg Square with signs against violence and her body being used for male gratification.
The demonstration sparked debate as many were outraged that a woman chose to display her body in public. Others said that it’s double standards for a woman’s body to be commodified in pornography, prostitution, advertising, and strip clubs for the pleasure of men, yet when she chooses to use it to make a point about consent, it’s considered morally wrong.
