I have reprinted below an appeal by Amnesty International on behalf of women in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Democratic Republic of Congo: Abuse and arbitrary detention of women political activists
Politically motivated arrests in the country have been particularly high since the first democratic elections in 2006. There have been widespread reports of supporters from opposition parties and journalists being arrested and abused. Law enforcement agents in the DRC also routinely commit torture, rape in custody and arbitrary arrest. In some cases opposition supporters have been killed.
One of the key characteristics in the war between 1998 and 2003 was of rape. Thousands of women and girls were reported to have been raped during the conflict and it is unknown how many more have failed to speak out against the violence they have suffered. Women and girls who have been raped often suffer from discrimination and rejection by their families and communities and so are reluctant to admit when they have been raped.
To this day rape is widespread by the security forces and armed groups within the country. There are reports of rape being used against women who are members of the Movement for the Liberation of the Congo (MLC) by security forces while in custody.
Background information
Coqueete Nsinga, a 25-year-old student, was arrested, beaten, held incommunicado and raped. All because of her membership to the MLC. After she was arrested along with three other women, police officers beat her, took her money, MLC membership cards, mobile phones and jewellery and questioned them about their political activities. Coquette had been held incommunicado and without formal charge for three weeks when five police officers took her from her cell, led her to another room and raped her. She has also experienced other forms of torture and ill treatment during her detention.
Independent human rights monitors are denied access to particular police and military detention centres. Amnesty International is urging that a judicial investigation be launched into these allegations of rape, arbitrary arrest and detention.
The recent conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has seen the most casualties within a war since WWII. Between 1998 and 2003 it is thought that around 4 million people have been killed and many more have been raped, injured or displaced. At some points in the conflict 9 different states were involved in fighting and many more militia groups were drawn into the conflict, which was characterised by changing allegiances between warring factions who benefited greatly from the vast amounts of natural resources within the country.
Today, many areas of the country are still extremely unstable, most prominently in the east of the country where opposition leaders have the most support. In 2006 the DRC held its first democratic elections sice 1970, but still there are many problems that prevent the country from fully participating in free and fair elections.
Please consider clicking HERE to send protest emails to the Head of State and Minister of Security.
I’ve just checked out my profile status as I appear not to be receiving these pieces of information and knew nothing about this.
This particular crime is a heinous way of demoralising people and societies which it is trying to suppress by brutal regimes such as this one.
To use rape is a vile weapon in the fight to stay in power and to suppress opposition to a more liberated society.
Again too often women are the victims. What is so distressing is the victimisation of these abused women by the rejection of their families because of their attack. This is a “double wammy” of suffering for them.
I get sick and tired hearing about endless women up and down the world being stigmatised for the injustice done to them. Whether this is because of rape or other forms of ritualistic abuse, that they have no control over.
Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
The signing of a petition seems a small step. The world has To know the injustices that are dished out to people on a daily basis.
Who could argue them against the power of the blog and individuals like yourself and I, who are just trying to take a stand in our efforts for humanity, dignity and justice.
Thank you athinkingman for your stand on this.
Thanks, once again, for keeping us informed of issues like this one. The particulars differ from place to place, but the story, tragically, remains the same.
Rape is still happening!
Link: Opposition Rape « A Thinking Man. One of the key characteristics in the war between 1998 and 2003 was of rape. Thousands of women and girls were reported to have been raped during the conflict and it is unknown
Rapes are still being used as a weapon of war
Link: Opposition Rape « A Thinking Man. One of the key characteristics in the war between 1998 and 2003 was of rape. Thousands of women and girls were reported to have been raped during the conflict and it is unknown
What infuriates me the most is that the suffering inflicted by the rapist only opens the door to the suffering inflicted by the victim’s own family and community. When are these people going to realize that they are being used as the weapon–and very effectively? It is the community’s belief that their women have been debased that debases them.
I was horrified back during the rape camps of the Balkans to hear a mother say she would rather her daughter be dead than raped. Earlier this year I was listening to a women’s rights activist in Iraq who said that many families won’t have their women back after a kidnapping because ‘we don’t know what was done to them.’
The community needs to say NO. We refuse to support this any longer and we refuse to worsen the suffering our loved one has already been thru.