"It is encouraging to see that the voice of victims of sexual and gender-based violence during the Khmer Rouge regime is being increasingly heard, which was not the case in the first years of the Extraordinary Chambers" , said Thun Saray, ADHOC President.
The International Co-Prosecutor used new evidence collected after the Introductory Submission of September 2009, including statements by civil party victims in Case 002 and Case 004, and indicating that forced marriages, rapes and other types of sexual and gender-based violence were perpetrated by Khmer Rouge cadre in areas under the command of the four suspects in Case 004.
"After the decision to include forced marriages and rape in Case 002/02, this request to further investigate sexual and gender based violence in Case 004 is a recognition of the widespread nature of these crimes committed during the Khmer Rouge regime and the need to hold those responsible accountable" , declared Patrick Baudouin, FIDH Honorary President.