UNITED NATIONS, April 27 -- Margot Wallstrom, the UN's Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, was asked Tuesday by the Press what countries outside of Africa she is looking to investigate for rape as a tool of war. She listed three: Afghanistan, Nepal and, to some surprisingly, Colombia.
Nepal and Afghanistan are on the agenda of the UN Security Council, which Ms. Wallstrom briefed on Tuesday. But Colombia is not, and its representatives have in the past chaffed when their conflict has been mentioned even near the Council, such as by the UN's expert on children and armed conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy.
Ms. Wallstrom told Inner City Press she aims to have as many staff as "Madame Coomaraswamy's office." For now, Inner City Press has met staffers who assisted on her recent Congo trip working on a couch in front of the UN library.
Inner City Press asked on camera when this mandate, called important by the UN, will actually have an office. Austria's Ambassador told Inner City Press his recent meeting with Wallstrom had been in "temporary quarters." Ms. Wallstrom said she is in the DC-1 building, but looking at space in what's called the Alcoa Building on 48th Street. Video here, from Minute 6:15.
Wallstrom's first trip was to the Congo, where she said that the UN Mission should not leave. Council members are headed on a much abbreviated trip to Kinshasa on May 13. "We are staying over only one night," one attended complained to Inner City Press. "It's hard to see what we'll accomplish."
This attendee recounted that U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice, too, said her colleagues should go to Eastern Congo -- but that French Ambassador Gerard Araud, who is leading the trip, wondered why Ms. Rice would complain if she herself is not going on the trip.
Inner City Press asked Ms. Wallstrom if she thought one night in Kinshasa was enough for this serious issue, and also about the UN working with units of the Congolese Army which are been accused of rape, even by UN expert Philip Alston. Wallstrom said "hopefully there will be a vetting procedure." Video here, from Minute 1:46. Yeah, hopefully.
Footnote: At least Ms. Wallstrom briefed the Press. Later on Tuesday the head of the UN Mission in Sudan, Haile Menkerios, briefed the Council about the elections there. While Department of Peacekeeping Operations staff had promised a stakeout by Menkerios, he ran up the stairs from the Council, thus taking no questions.
This may be a shame, as we are learning more and more about his posting to UNMIS, the length and replacement(s). More on this anon.
