Rehabilitation/Assistance. Witness A spoke about many women in Rwanda suffering with AIDS and other illnesses as a result of the sexual violence they experienced. She herself stated in an interview that she still suffers from an infection resulting from the rapes she endured. She stated that many women suffering from these illnesses are finding it difficult to provide for their families. According to Ms. Ngendahayo, the ICTR has, as recently as July 1999, accepted amendments to rules providing for legal representation, medical and financial assistance. The proposals to these amendments met with much resistance. Ms. Ngendahayo stated she was told that these proposals were beyond the mandate of the ICTR statute. According to her, the major obstacles in ensuring participation of victims are lack of information and lack of effective protective measures. Ms. Balikungeri addressed this concern and stated that reparations are critical to begin closing the gap between the tribunal form of justice and the kind of justice needed on the grassroots level. Another audience participated noted the vast disparities in medical and psychological assistance and treatment available for the accused and victims in the process wherein the accused is treated according to UN standards for the treatment of prisoners and provided medical care and proper facilities and victims are left to their own devices in shattered communities. She echoed the concerns of Witness A that there is a big gap between the legal initiatives and how survivors manage subsequently and stated that the tribunals need to make every effort to be more relevant to the survivors.
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