She said she met with all religious leaders, and while “they show a lot of empathy toward the women returning” she was told that Turkmen women will be rejected by their community. Mosul was liberated last July, and Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared an end to the Islamic States’ self-styled caliphate. But Patten said the impact of the conflict and ISIS occupation is impacting not only the women but their children. She said provincial authorities in Mosul told her women who were raped and held as sex slaves have abandoned their children born to ISIS fighters. In her meetings, Patten said she also called for a scaling-up of medical, mental health and psychological services and economic opportunities for victims of sexual violence.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 10, 2018 23:37 UTC