The ongoing war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been marked by
almost unimaginable atrocities, including millions killed and displaced in a war that
seven nations have participated in. Most horrifically, sexual assault has become a major
part of the violence with rape being so systematic and brutal that doctors in the DRC are
now classifying wounds inflicted by rapists as combat injuries. Up to one in three
Congolese women living in conflict affected areas have been raped and in spite of the
official ending of hostilities, reported sexual abuse and domestic violence has tripled in
the last year in some provinces.
Despite the dedicated work of many Congolese NGOs and various international groups,
the issue of sexual assault and domestic violence remains a serious crisis in the DRC.
Agencies such as the UN, which are theoretically committed to gender equality, should
be devoting huge resources towards combating sexual violence. Yet there have been only
rhetorical denunciations against impunity and calls for accountability with little effective
effort. The all too common attitude in the DRC and the world at large is that rape and
gender violence should be left for women to address while men address the important
issues of “real” politics.
Rape, of course, is not a women’s issue. Addressing sexual violence is intrinsically
important for everyone; and ending it means confronting the negative gender relations
which lead to rape and domestic abuse.
