It is truly shocking to read reports of widespread sexual violence against women and minor girls in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). But, this is the fact, and the international community is unable to do anything to prevent such inhumane atrocities against innocent children, sometimes as small as four-years of age. Are we living in hell?
When the United Nations has made it a prerogative to improve child security across the world, Congo’s horrific incidents prove that the world organization and in fact the entire international community has failed miserably to prevent child abuses in conflict zones. Mere lectures by leading world leaders on the podium of the UN’s office in New York during annual meetings will not do. We need positive results and that also very quickly. Civilians of Congo and for that matter many African states are suffering from conflict-related abuses at an alarming rate.
Years of anarchy in the DRC have made the civilian population, particularly the women and children, vulnerable to revenge attacks by the conflicting parties. Extreme poverty and lack of a structured political institution have further aggravated the situation.
But the increase in violence in recent months between government forces and rebels loyal to renegade General Laurent Nkunda has led to widespread displacement of the vulnerable civilians. Sexual violence is a direct result of any war. The combatants, in order to strike fear among the opposing population resort to rape and sexual killings. In Congo, the situation is no different, infact more brutal.
In the DRC, rape is regarded as reward for the conflicting soldiers. Raping is seen as a legitimate payment package for those involved in direct fighting. Furthermore, displaced women and children face sexual violence at the hands of security officials, locals, fellow refugees, police and international peace keepers.
But, most of the incidents go unpunished due to lack of legal infrastructure. Moreover, most of the victims prefer not to disclose their sufferings for fear of revenge and social stigma.
Traffickers take their opportunities of anarchy and severe poverty to force women and girls into prostitution and some of the vulnerable girls are admitted into combat groups to keep the fighters sexually happy and morally high. There is an immediate need to assess the situation in the DRC and respond accordingly. The UN has to take the lead in preventing the growing violence against young girls and women.
Why are Congo’s much-suffering children deprived of the basic human needs when much of the world’s children are going around with their lives normally?
