There has been mass rapes in villages in the Democratic Republic of Congo with approximately 300 victims including 235 women, 52 girls, 13 men, and 3 young boys. It was rebel army groups that did the attack/rapings called the Mai-Mai Cheka, the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (DLFR), and elements close to Colonel Emmanuel Nsengiyumva. The reasoning behind the attacks? The proposed reason was to intimidate the local people seen by the rebel groups as government supporters. So the 55 children who were raped... they were government supporters?Where were the victims' protection? What is the UN going to do now to keep them protected?
There are more potential attacks to come and attacks could be occuring as you read this. In 2009 alone there were over 8,300 rapes and many rapes go unreported. Will there ever be justice for the victims? Will their stories ever get enough attention to provoke change? Why is this getting so little coverage?
The UN released a statement saying that the UN peacekeeping forces in the DR Congo did not receive any training as to how to help or protect victims in a situation such as this one and suffered from 'operational constraints.' I'm wondering if this is statement is sufficient to keep the victims, victims' friends and family, and potential future victims from worrying about tomorrow...
I THINK NOT.
Here is a follow up story in regards to the mass rapes that have occurred and are continuing in the DR Congo. This article gives a man who witnessed the rapes a voice.
ReplyDeletehttp://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE6AN01I20101124