Congo: “The rape we’re seeing here is brutal” « Voices from the Field

Congo: “The rape we’re seeing here is brutal”

Posted by The IRC on 16 January, 2008

Photo: Peter Biro/The IRC

Public Radio International’s The World interviewed Sarah Mosely (left), IRC Gender Based Violence coordinator, about sexual violence and the use of rape as a weapon of war in the Democratic Republic of Congo last Wednesday.

“The rape we’re seeing here is brutal. Most of the women are gang-raped,” Mosely said. “Often they are mutilated in the process to the extent they will not be able to have children again or become incontinent so the physical wounds incurred by these rapes are severe and life threatening often.”

Listen to the story here and read the full interview with Sarah here.

You can also learn more about the “war against women” in Congo in Anderson Cooper’s report on 60 Minutes on Sunday.

This entry was posted on 16 January, 2008 at 5:57 pm and is filed under Africa, women. Tagged: 60 Minutes, congo, international rescue committee, irc, PRI, rape, Sexual Violence. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

6 Responses to “Congo: “The rape we’re seeing here is brutal””

Oscar Sumuano Says:
22 January, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Si bien es cierto que la situación humanitaria en RD del Congo, como en otros países africanos es verdaderamente lamentable, mucho haríamos los países desarrollados o en desarrollo si en lugar de practicar la “caridad” no buscamos implantar en nuestros propios países instrumentos honrados, justos e imparciales para salucionar los problemas internos de justicia social.
Esta conducta repercutiría favorablemente en esos países africanos.
Nancy from Texas Says:
24 January, 2008 at 12:20 am
I am so glad my friend has made it to Texas from DRCongo. She has a beautiful new baby girl–born a US citizen. They are safe. She has no family, only a husband in Congo. We in Church of Jesus Christ are now her family.
Ngoy Rodrigue Says:
24 January, 2008 at 2:25 am
This is real, people are experiencing this and they are feeling this in this bones. It’s chocking!
Werner Reul Says:
29 March, 2008 at 12:00 pm
hi,
having spent 5 years (1966-1970) as a young engineer in MANONO, Katanga, I am interested in knownig what the situation is there today.
Who can help me in finding out ?
Lisa Says:
9 April, 2008 at 12:43 pm
what can we do about it, what can we do to lessen these womens suffering and create for them better lives
Leonie Dillon Says:
13 April, 2008 at 2:26 am
From my comfortable and secure life here in Australia, my heart bleeds for the women in Congo who have endured so much fear and brutality. I would like to be able to do something for even one girl or woman who has suffered at the hands of rapists. It is totally apalling and wicked. What do I do?