Rape has turned into a weapon of war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the number of attacks on women having grown threefold over the past few years, reveals a CNN report.

Congo has witnessed one of the worst humanitarian crises since World War II, with a death toll estimated at more than 5 million. Most of the dead have come not from direct violence, but the consequences of the fighting: disease and starvation.

While the war formally ended six years ago, fighting persists in eastern Congo, and women are paying a high price, it reports.

Anneke van Woudenberg, senior researcher with Human Rights Watch, is informed to have told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour that 200,000 women and girls have been raped in Eastern Congo since 1998, and the condition of women has become more dire as the Congolese army has pressed a military campaign against armed groups in the countryside.

Pointing out how raping women was the easiest way to terrorise a community, Woudenberg is quoted as saying,
“Rape is being used as a weapon of war in eastern Congo. So we notice and we have documented that when armed groups walk into town, they will rape the women and girls to punish the local population.”

She further informed that the majority of those who are raped are adolescent girls, 12-year-olds, 13-year-olds, 14-year-olds.

The CNN report further reveals that there have also been reports of members of the Congolese army, particularly high ranking officers, attacking women. In May, the United Nations handed over the names of five top military officers accused of rape, who are awaiting trial.

Aid groups however say more needs to be done, starting with establishment of a special court to investigate rape allegations which can hold to account the ‘so far untouchable’ generals and colonels who are either themselves responsible or who allow their troops to rape.

Congo has taken some measures to try to curb the sexual violence. In 2006, its parliament passed a law criminalising rape, with penalties ranging from five to 20 years. Penalties are doubled under certain circumstances, including gang-rape and if the perpetrator is a public official.

President Joseph Kabila’s wife, Olive Lemba Kabila, has launched a public campaign against rapes of the nation’s women and girls.

The army has also started a zero-tolerance campaign in which commanders have emphasised to troops to respect human rights and protect civilians from harm.

Part of the problem stems from the tactic applied by the Congolese government to quell previous armed rebellions against Kinshasa by incorporating insurgents into the national army, leading to a military that paid scant attention to human rights, and the rights of women in particular.

War crimes
200,000 women and girls have been raped in Eastern Congo since 1998

Maojority of the victims are adolescent girls

There are reports of high ranking officers in the Congolese army attacking women

Damage control
In 2006, the Congolese parliament passed law criminalising rape

The First Lady has launched campaign against rape of women and girls

The army has started a zero-tolerance campaign for human rights protection