Darfuri refugee women and girls face high levels of rape and other violence in eastern Chad, despite the presence of UN security forces, Amnesty International said on Wednesday.

In Amnesty’s report, 'No place for us here: Violence against refugee women in eastern Chad', the culture of impunity regarding violence and sexual crime towards women is explained.
 

The report claims that Darfuri refugees who have fled to eastern Chad face high levels of rape and violence on a daily basis inside and outside of their refugee camps.
 

These crimes take place despite the presence of UN security forces and the Integrated Security Unit, a Chadian police force supported by the UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT), whose specific responsibility it is to provide security both inside and outside the camps.
 

According to the report, women within the refugee camps have reason to fear almost all sectors of society. Perpetrators range from being nearby villagers and members of the Chadian National Army to family members, other refugees and even staff of humanitarian organisations, whose job it is to provide assistance and support.
 

The report further claims that some girls are forced to drop out of school due to sexual harassment from teachers, with the teachers threatening poor marks if the student did not have sexual intercourse with them.
 

UN fights rape
The report comes at a time when US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, is said to be leading the UN fight against rape in war.
 

"The dehumanizing nature of sexual violence doesn't just harm a single individual or a single family or even a single village or a single group, it shreds the fabric that weaves us together as human beings," she said.
 

Speaking on the issue of rape in war, UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon said, "parties to armed conflict continue to use sexual violence with efficient brutality". He added, "the perpetrators generally operate with impunity."
 

In an effort to end the culture of impunity in Chad, Amnesty has called on Chadian authorities to start enforcing existing laws against rape and to work out a programme with international groups to raise awareness about attacks on women.