The group today sent a stern reply to letter sent to them by the U.S. State Department's Ambassador-At-Large for Global Womens' Issues, which downplayed the violence and ignores the findings of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
In the letter they cited an August 21, 2009 report that noted: 'In the context of the demonstrations and the repression and detentions carried out by police officers and members of the military, women were especially subject to acts of violence and humiliation because of their gender."
In its letter, the USW Women of Steel states
"...you appear to downplay the concern expressed by the Women of Steel about violence against women in Honduras following the coup, saying that you know of only one case of a woman being gang raped by police. This ignores the findings of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights which, in its report of August 21, 2009, found numerous cases of violence perpetrated against women by the coup regime."
It also calls for the restoration of democracy in Honduras and the immediate reinstatement of Manuel Zelaya to his rightful position as President.
To view letter visit http://assets.usw.org/action_center/Women_of_Steel/WOS_News/wos_reply_to_ambassador_verveer_honduras.pdf
