Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bukavu (Agenzia Fides)-“Sexual abuse as a weapon has been used for some time against civilians. As in every war women are the first victims. At last the world is talking about it” said a Missionary in the east of Democratic Congo where, according to a recent UN, sexual violence is endemic.
The report says that in 2006 in the province of south Kivu alone, more than 27,000 sexual crimes were reported. “This figure is alarming is certainly incomplete but the fact that violence is reported means that Congolese women are not resigned to suffer passively. And in this desperate situation, it should be noted that the people still have the strength to react. Women struggle every day for their rights” said the missionary who asked not to be named for security reasons.
The perpetrators of the violence are militias of several armed groups operating in the region. Besides political claims, these militia often act like common bandits and abuse the population. Even the local self defence groups (Mayi Mayi) cannot escape the logic of looting villages and committing violence against the people. According to the UN report many women suffer domestic abuse. “This is true” the missionary said “but it is a result of a situation of war and instability in this region for the last 10 years. Unless peace returns and the institutions guarantee security, violence will continue”.
The local Catholic Church runs programmes to help women who suffer abuse. “The diocese of Bukavu” the missionary said “offers medical and psychological care to women who have been raped and helps them to overcome the shame and return to the families and society. The most tragic situation which the diocesan volunteers have to deal with, is when a women is pregnant after being raped and has to face her husband”.
The insecurity in the east of D. Congo persists especially in N. Kivu where the governor has launched a “cleansing" operation retrieve light arms from cities such as Beni, Butembo and Goma. The week long operation led by the army involved police and civil volunteers. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 8/10/2007 righe 31 parole 416)
