WRITTEN QUESTION P-2370/03 by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission. Gang rape of women by British troops in Kenya.
Date: 2003-07-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Kenya, United Kingdom, forces abroad, legal process, military personnel, sexual violence

C 88 E/406

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

(cid:1) by virtue of the concordat the State accepts the designation of Belarus as a ‘canonical territory’ of the

Orthodox Church;

(cid:1) previously, Georgia was the only former Soviet republic to have concluded a high-level concordat with
signed by the President Eduard

a local Orthodox church (cid:1) the ‘constitutional agreement’
Shevardnadze with the Patriarch-Catholicos Ilya II on 14 October 2002;

(cid:1) the provisions of that document, however, such as exemption from tax and restitution of church
property, broadly correspond to those in existing laws on religion in Russia, but the new Belarusian
concordat goes much further by introducing into the legal terminology of the State several key
concepts vigorously promoted by the Moscow Patriarchate since the break-up of the Soviet Union.

In view of the excellent economic and commercial cooperation relations between the European Union and
Belarus can the Commission say:

(cid:1) whether it is aware of the facts outlined above;

(cid:1) what steps it will take, in the context of cooperation relations, as a serious and effective means of

inducing Belarus to respect religious freedom?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(12 September 2003)

As regards relations with Belarus, it must be kept in mind that the Union and Member States actions with
Belarus are strictly defined, in compliance with the September 1997 Council Resolution establishing a
number of restrictions on political contact. In this framework economic and commercial relations between
the Community and Belarus cannot be described as being ‘excellent’.

The Commission would like to reiterate that it attaches great importance to the rights of freedom of
religion, belief and expression. The Union has repeatedly affirmed that human rights and democratisation
must form an integral part of all political dialogues with third countries. Religious freedom, as one of the
fundamental human rights, as well as the rights of religious minorities are thus addressed through the
Union’s bilateral political dialogues, and, when appropriate, through démarches and public declarations, as
well as through Union action in fora such as the United Nations (UN) Commission on Human Rights or
the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly.

The Commission remains engaged to support freedom of religion and Human Rights in Belarus, in close
co-operation with Member States, the Council of Europe, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) and the United Nations.

(2004/C 88 E/0412)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2370/03

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Gang rape of women by British troops in Kenya

(16 July 2003)

It was recently reported that 650 women from the town of Isiolo in eastern Kenya have complained that
they have been subjected to rape, in many cases gang rape, by British solders. There is a British army base
in the region where exercises are held every year. According to their complaints, the rapes began in 1977;
although the British Ministry of Defence was informed, it failed to intervene. As a result of these rapes,
many women have given birth to half-cast babies and are marginalized, having been driven out by their
families. Most of these women, acting with financial assistance from the Kenyan authorities, have filed law
suits and are seeking compensation.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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In view of:

(cid:1) the anger and indignation caused by the sexual abuse of these women by European citizens as a form

of entertainment;

(cid:1) the total lack of respect for their physical and psychological integrity; and

(cid:1) the price they and their children have to pay, in terms of marginalization and expulsion by their

families, for events for which they bear no responsibility.

Does the Commission intend to intervene to shed light on this affair and ensure that these Kenyan women
receive moral and financial compensation and that
receive exemplary punishment?
Furthermore, what measures does the Commission intend to take to prevent such incidents of sexual
violence and abuse of women in future which constitute flagrant violations of their human rights?

the culprits

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(14 August 2003)

The Commission has received information on the alleged gang rape of women committed by British
troops in Kenya. The Commission considers this issue one to be pursued by the Government of the
Member State concerned, and for them to take appropriate measures. In this context the Commission
would like to draw attention to the report of Amnesty International entitled ‘Decades of Impunity: Serious
allegations of Rape of Kenyan Women by UK Army Personnel’ which notes that in April 2003 the British
Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch (RMP-SIB) opened an investigation into a number of
rape allegations.

(2004/C 88 E/0413)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2371/03

by Michael Cashman (PSE) to the Commission

(16 July 2003)

Subject: EU-Egypt Association Agreement

Can the Commission provide assurances that when the EU-Egypt Association Agreement comes into force,
it will remain vigilant as to the extent Egypt fulfils the terms set out in Article 2, concerning respect for
human rights? How will the Commission measure Egypt’s compliance with this article and what steps will
the Commission take to ensure that Egypt adheres fully to its obligations?

Is there any possibility that Egypt may be able to take advantage ‘at an early stage’ of some benefits that
would result from the Agreement, and if so, can the Commission clarify what benefits may be offered, and
when? Furthermore, will the Commission agree that should such benefits be made available, Egypt will also
be required to take steps in respect of other aspects of the Agreement, particularly Article 2?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(4 August 2003)

The respect of human rights is a matter of great importance for the Commission, which has been
following closely the situation in Egypt independently of the entry into force of the association agreement.
The Honourable Member will be aware of the Union’s many efforts on issues of Human Rights and
Democratisation in Egypt. Most recently discussions on human rights questions took place during the
Union-Egypt ministerial meeting of 16/17 June 2003.