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DRC: The disease that destroys the dignity

By on May 18, 2011
In DRC, and after the study published in the United States, more than 1100 women are raped every day.

The authors of the study estimate that 400 000 women and girls have been raped over a period of twelve months (2006 and 2007). The study has concluded that the situation is 26 times more than the UN estimates over the same period. The phenomena doesn’t concern only women who came from conflict areas, but in fact, the phenomenon has been dispersed to more villages and areas. And the reason is that all former rebels or armed groups who committed rape, are now integrated into the regular army, and are responsible for the protection of those villages, where they continue their abuses. Many women do not dare to denunciate them, fearing retaliation, because they live the in the same villages as their abusers, but also responsible for their protection. Many soldiers, who retired and returned to civilian life, continue to commit rape in their community, or even within their families. For example, in Goma, North Kivu, there is an international NGO running a Hospital, called Heal Africa, dedicated for all the victims of rape. Heal Africa is undertaking an extensive informative work to inform the population and change the attitudes. Like in schools and communities, members of the organization point out that domestic rape can be punished by 20 to 25 years of jail. They explain to people that rape abuse is like murder, because it deeply destroys dignity. Finally, there are too many things to do, but in a conflict-ridden country where rape has become commonplace, the task promises to be arduous.

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