Africa: Women - Violence in War And in Peace

Esther Mandelstamm/March 21, 2008/4:36pm/Gender Issues

The article that I read was written by Marie Claire Faray-Kele who is a research scientist in infectious diseases centre, institute of cell and molecular science (ICMS), Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry in London.

On International Women's Day, we can't help but be reminded that "gender-based" violence is on the of the biggest threats to woman's advancement, empowerment and security. For many of Marie Claire's sisters in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), sexual violence in the most severe ways is a daily reality. These women are hurt so badly they struggle to walk to the water well. The human cost of the conflict and instability in the DRC has been cataclysmic. Since 1997 more than about 4 million people have died as a result of the war. Sadly there has been no figure for the numbers of women who have suffered the ordeal of systematic rape. Sexual violence has become a weapon of warn in eastern Congo. "Sexual violence has been used to punish entire communities for their political loyalties, to displace populations from their lands or as a form of tribal cleansing. "

Marie Claire is part of the UK disapora of Congelese women, she is in contact with members of women's organization in the DRC, such as the Solidarit of the Women of Burhale (SOFEBU), based in the east of the country. SOFEBU women set up collective creches, manage livestock and agricultural projects and form cooperatives in jam-making or clothes dye production. These projects are managed and implemented by women. Since 1997, many of the Congelese women have lost everything after being raped and subjected to other gender-based violence. Some are held in sexual slavery, kidnapped at gunpoint, raped by gangs of armed men, who sometimes mutilated their genitals. There is no age limit to this abuse, some are as young as three and as old as 75.

Healing after these terrible physical injuries is unlikely given the scarcity of medical care. Even if the victims do heal they face being rejected by their husbands, due to the stigma of rape. These women are silent with no chance of a social life and their level of poverty increase. There is no justice for these women. "The conflict in the DRC is often referred to as the forgotten war in the international media.

Women are not being adequately involved or informed in the DCR disarmament process. Women are being excluded from the peace building process all together. "The latest peace agreement was signed in late January 2008, at a conference in Goma, eastern Congo.
Out of 600 delegates, there were only 33 women in attendance. Out of a six page document, the only referral to rape and sexual violence was in a singular paragraph that read: "[all parties hereby agree to] the cessation of all acts of violence in all forms towards the civilian population, particularly women and children, the elderly and handicapped."

The Mass killings are referred to as massacres, but there is no noun for the deliberate systematic rape that was endured by these women. Congolese women want to fight and know why. These women want these crimes investigated at the highest levels of the international criminal court. These women want to be an active role in this investigation and pursuing justice.

I believe that we all need to be concerned with the victimization of these women. They deserve justice and protection from this happening again. It is in the interest for all women to protect our sisters. This happened at a time of war, who is to say that it could not happen to us. We can not just brush these women off and say "oh that only happens in Africa, not to me" well that could be any one. Not only were these women physically and emotionally abused but then socially shunned. These women have lost everything.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200803200580.html