The revelation prompted congressman Duncan Hunter to demand US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter take "immediate steps to stop child rape" amid an American military presence in Afghanistan. "He believes that anyone who engages in (child sex abuse) is ineligible under the Leahy Law for US training, equipment or other assistance and should be prosecuted." The fresh call to apply the law comes ahead of a crucial donor conference on Afghanistan in Brussels in October. The ancient custom of bacha bazi, seen as a culturally sanctioned form of male rape, remains widespread in Afghanistan. Kabul announced a "thorough investigation" but it has yet to pass legislation criminalizing bacha bazi and no initiatives have been publicly announced to rescue any children enslaved at security outposts.

Source: Bangkok Post September 01, 2016 03:00 UTC