More than 6,700 victims of sexual violence treated in 2008
March 5th, 2009
The armed conflict has been underway for 15 years in Kivu, producing a cortège of dead and wounded civilians. But another form of violence – this one much less visible – destroys an incalculable number of lives. Women are being raped widely throughout the provinces of North and South Kivu.
“Rape is clearly linked to the conflict,” explains Romain Gitenet, MSF head of mission in North Kivu. “Armed men commit most of the violence. And rape often occurs during looting.”
Women are considered as spoils of war, not unlike a family’s property and stores of food. They may also be considered as belonging to the armed group that controls the area where they live, and as such are targeted by opposing armed factions.
When women go to the fields or market or as they walk along the road, they risk to encounter men in mismatched uniforms or khaki and to be attacked. At night, armed men may also burst into a village or displaced persons’ camp and force open the doors of houses. Women and young girls may become the fighters’ prey.
How many women? And how many men? They may be victims of rape, too. No one knows. At MSF, we can report only on the number of individuals that our project teams see. In 2008, we treated 6,702 victims of sexual violence.
While that number may seem large, it provides only a partial view of the situation. Women are afraid to say what has happened to them because they fear that their community will reject them and their family will repudiate them and therefore, do not come to be cared at the hospital. The victims feel guilt. And indeed, in most cases, men do think that it is the woman’s fault and that the rape was not accidental. The community and family often agree.
However, some women who have heard others talk about our work, listened to a radio report or even received information at church would like to be treated but do not come because they live too far away, travel by foot and would be at risk of further attack en route. Even when relative calm settles in and the noise of gunfire lets up, insecurity remains high. The violence does not ease. The armed men are there, omnipresent.
Visit the site “Shattered Lives; Immediate medical care vital for sexual violence victims” : www.msf.org/shatteredlives
