Sexual Violence in Democratic Republic of Congo Said to Be Ghastly, Terrifying

In Glamour magazine's Aug. 6 edition, renowned playwright Eve Ensler reveals an account of her encounter with women and girls in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who have been the victims of sexual violence beyond anything she has ever encountered before. The article launches Ensler's "Stop Raping Our Greatest Resource, Power To The Women And Girls Of The Democratic Republic Of Congo" campaign. The purpose of the campaign is to call for an end to sexual violence against women and children, put in place measures to ensure that state armed forces and police do not perpetrate sexual violence, and implement and enforce national laws that protect, as well as empower, women.

In an Aug. 6 press release, Ensler is quoted: "Before I went to the Congo, I'd spent the past 10 years working on V-Day, the global movement to end violence against women and girls. I'd traveled to the rape mines of the world - places like Bosnia, Afghanistan and Haiti, where rape has been used as a tool of war. But nothing I ever experienced felt as ghastly, terrifying and complete as the sexual torture and attempted destruction of the female species here. The violence is a threat to all; young girls and village elders alike are at risk. It is not too strong to call this a femicide, to say that the future of the Congo's women is in serious jeopardy."

Ensler is the founder of V-Day, which raises funds and awareness of violence against women and girls through benefit productions of her play, "The Vagina Monologues." The "V" in V-Day stands for Victory, Valentine and Vagina.

The press release says that since 1996, sexual violence against women and children in the eastern part of the DRC has been used to torture and humiliate the victims, as well as to destroy families. According to UNICEF estimates, hundreds of thousands of women and girls have been raped and left with both physical and psychological damage. Many survivors are left with genital lesions, traumatic fistulae and other physical wounds, as well as unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.

Ensler's Glamour magazine article describes her June visit to Panzi Hospital in Bukavu. At that location, UNICEF funds medical assistance, counseling, and support for women and young girls who have experienced sexual violence. The article describes the victims' very personal stories, as well as the hard work of Dr. Denis Mugwebe of the Panzi Hospital where many of the survivors are treated.

Ann M. Veneman is the executive director of UNICEF. In the press release she said: "When you have spoken to these women and girls, and listened to their stories, you clearly understand just how devastating their circumstances are. Simple, everyday tasks, like gathering wood or fetching water, expose them to grave danger. They must be allowed to live in a secure environment."

V-Day will also spotlight the women of DRC in its 2009 Spotlight campaign, which will spread the word through thousands of V-Day benefits and activities.

The funds that are raised will go to support local groups that provide counseling, medical services and legal aid. Emphasis will be on the creation of City of Joy in Bukavu, a center for sexual violence survivors who have been left without family, community or the ability to bear children. City of Joy will offer them a safe place to live while providing them with an education, leadership training and an opportunity to earn an income.

Source:

Press release, V-DAY, UNICEF call for end to rape, sexual torture against girls in eastern DRC; http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/EGUA-75TNAF?OpenDocument