Quote:

---

Rape in Congo: 'A country sport', 9 Aug, 2007, by Nina Brenjo.


The perpetrators include armed groups, soldiers, police and increasingly, civilians, says UN rights investigator Yakin Erturk in his report by Reuters. In some cases even the UN peacekeepers are involved.


As Christine Schuler Deschryver, an aid worker for a German aid organisation quoted by Ensler, puts it: "All of them are raping women. It is a country sport. Any person in uniform is an enemy to women."


The situation is unikely to get better, given the United Nation's warnings about the possibility of another "all-out conflict," the Washington Post reports. An estimated 230,000 people have been displaced since the beginning of the year, generating the worst humanitarian crisis since Congo's civil war. In such circumstances, tackling rape won't be topping the list of priorities for the Congolese authorities.

---

When did it ever get on the list, much less top the Congolese government's list of priorities? This situation is terribly painful to contemplate, but contemplate we must. See links in my signature for ways you can help.

--------------------
Women for Women International - For the special needs of women surviving war.
Kiva - Small loans changing lives around the world.
Bukavu Foundation - For the Panzi Women's Shelter & other programs in Eastern Congo.
Room to Read - Change begins with educated children.

Edited by diane9247 (07/05/08 10:26 PM)

Post Extras