Algeria: Investigate and prosecute attacks against women

In a letter sent today to Algeria’s Minister of Justice, the organization has expressed its deep concern over the reported attacks in the town of Hassi Messaoud, and has called on the Algerian authorities to send a clear signal that they do not tolerate violence against women. [...] Over the past two months, women living in Hassi Messaoud – an oil-rich area 627km south-east of Algiers – in the “36 dwellings” and “40 dwellings” areas, are reported to have been the target of a spate of attacks by groups of unidentified young men. [...] The attacks allegedly take place at night, when the groups (usually composed of five to six people) forcibly enter the homes of women, apparently in order to rob them. [...] The organization has also stressed that the women subjected to the attacks ought to be provided with an effective remedy, including access to any counselling and health and social services they might require. [...] To this end, strong public condemnation of the violence is needed by the authorities, as recommended by Article 4 of the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women.