Rape cases escalate in Democratic Republic of Congo

12 November 2007

This epidemic of rape, which has escalated at a terrifying rate in recent months, has obvious devastating impacts on the health of women as well as undermining their right to equality, development, security and peace.

The outlook for women seeking medical help is bleak. Essential resources such as hospitals, experienced doctors, and psychological support are sorely lacking. Horrific injuries resulting from sexual violence often go untreated. Unfortunately, the systematic use of rape throughout DRC’s brutal war has only reinforced the culture of silence that surrounds gender-based violence. Many of the women are ostracised by their communities when they try to speak out against or seek treatment for rape.

The presence of sexual violence in DRC is shocking by any measure. A recent study in one area where CARE works found that 70 per cent of survivors of sexual violence know other women who have undergone similar experiences. In one town, a health worker estimated that between 70 and 80 per cent of the female population had experienced some form of sexual violence. One health worker said that women who experience rape or sexual violence are punished three times: once by the violence itself, once by their communities if they dare to complain, and a third time when they see the culprits still walking the streets.

And yet there is hope. Although they face incredible hurdles, health workers and newly elected officials are doing what they can to address this horrific problem.

CARE is lobbying the Congolese Government to ratify the Protocol on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, drafted at the recent International Conference on the Great Lakes Region. If ratified, this protocol will lay the foundation for training officials and creating structures that will help to protect women in DRC.

Meanwhile, we are supporting women’s organisations to work with village leaders in their communities to develop concrete strategies for ending violence against women and curb the massive human toll of war in DRC.