World in Progress: Changing laws and lives in limbo

Thousands of women and children of former ISIS fighters are stuck in camps in Syria, but their home countries are reluctant to take them back ++ Across Europe, there are efforts to change rape laws

European countries reluctant to repatriate former IS fighters and their families

Since the fall of the last Isis stronghold in early 2019, tens of thousands of former IS fighters and their families have been interned in camps in North eastern Syria. Among them, there are some 11,000 foreigners, including hundreds of European fighters and their families. They are detained in the Al Hol and the Roj camps by the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which control the north-east of the country.

So far, just a few states have flown citizens back home - where in most cases, they face trial. Western European governments have been very reluctant to repatriate their nationals, including the children born in the territories formerly controlled by the Islamic State. So the vast majority of women and children remain stuck in the camps, As do the men, whose conditions are even worse. Crime and health concerns add to the burden, including hundreds of COVID cases. NGOS are urging foreign countries to repatriate their nationals, also because the conditions in the camps are the ideal breeding ground for more extremism.

Reporter Burkhard Birke/ Presenter: Ineke Mules

Changing Rape Laws in Europe

Violence against women is a major problem around the world, and European countries are no exception. One in ten women in Europe have experienced some form of sexual violence. And many don't dare to report rape or other incidents. It's been 10 years since European governments signed the Istanbul Convention on preventing violence against women. Countries that signed the treaty were supposed to enact effective laws and measures to protect women. In some countries, that has included a change in rape laws to enable more rape survivors to find justice. But many women still feel let down by laws and procedures.