The dictators of the Arab world didn't respond with one voice to the protests of the Arab spring. Some left without much urging. Some continue to fight. We hear from one Libyan Canadian woman who's investigated the sexual violence against women as a weapon of war.

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Alaa Murabit, Founder of Voice of Libyan Women

During the uprisings of the Arab Spring, rape and sexual assault were tragically common. And in some countries, it's been suggested sexual violence was actually used as a weapon against rebels.

Alaa Murabit is the founder of Voice of Libyan Women. She's a Libyan Canadian who is currently studying medicine at Al Zawiya University in Libya. She visited some of the country's remote areas to speak with assault victims.

Today she's in Toronto to give the keynote address at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Law conference titled Sexual Violence in the Recent Conflicts in Libya and Syria. Alaa Murabit was in our Toronto studio.

This segment was produced by The Current's Lara O'Brien.

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Last Word - Monday Tunisia Promo

Coming up Monday on The Current, Tunisia is the birthplace of the Arab spring, but the optimism that came with the toppling of its dictator has evaporated. This week, a popular opposition leader was assassinated and a general strike erupted in protest. It's never possible to predict where the turmoil will lead -- but it's hard to see how it will unite Tunisians.

We'll hear from some of them, ask what went wrong and what might be done to make it right. It took the horrible death of a Tunisian fruit vendor to ignite so many passions, a death that moved the U.S. president to a public statement. Tunisia's troubles have not received the same attention since.

Today's Last Word goes to Barack Obama, honouring a fallen protester.

Other segments from today's show:

The military campaign in Mali: Too soon for France troops to leave?

Air pollution in Athens escalates due to government's austerity measures