Da Londra, per Joy

STOP RAPE, DETENTION AND DEPORTATIONS

Justice for Ms Joy N, victim of trafficking and attempted rape

Prosecute police chief inspector Vittorio Addesso

2 February 2011, Milan court

We support Ms Joy N’s courageous efforts to get justice against her attacker, police chief inspector Vittorio Addesso.  Mr Addesso appears in court tomorrow, 2 February, in Milan, Italy, charged with sexual violence for the attempted rape of Ms Joy N whilst she was held in a detention centre in Italy that he ran at the time.  She was saved from further injury by her cellmates and three other women who bravely intervened and stopped the rape.  We put the court on notice that Ms Joy N must be given a fair hearing.  Any attempts to attack her character in order to discredit her account will result in strong protests by anti-rape campaigners internationally.  Once the charges are proven, as we expect they will be, Mr Addesso should face a sentence which takes into consideration his abuse of power, the particular vulnerability of his victim and the need to demonstrate that the police and courts will vigorously pursue and punish violent attackers.

Massimo Chiodini, the then Red Cross director, who lied in court in an attempt to shield Mr Addesso from prosecution should also face charges.

This is a crucial case for women in detention in particular, in many countries, who face similar abuses of power from guards, doctors, management and others in authority.  Ensuring that Mr Addesso is brought to justice will strengthen all of us against the sexism, racism and brutality we experience daily.

The serious assault against Ms Joy N is only the tip of the iceberg of widespread rape and abuse in detention centres. There must now be an immediate independent investigation.  Violent and illegal deportations must also end.

Some of us went on hunger strike in January and February 2010 for up to six weeks in Yarl’s Wood Removal Centre to protest against indefinite detention and appalling conditions including being separated from our children.  As asylum seekers, including women who have been in detention, immigrants and non-immigrants, and people of colour living in the UK we will not rest until Ms Joy N gets the justice she deserves.

All African Women’s Group aawg2002@googlemail.com www.allwomencount.net,

Black Women’s Rape Action Project bwrap@rapeaction.net www.womenagainstrape.net

Global Women’s Strike gws@globalwomenstrike.net