Democratic Republic of the Congo - the struggle for health care and justice for rape survivors

AI Index: AFR 62/003/2004 Stop violence against women Democratic Republic of the Congo – the struggle for health care and justice for rape survivors [Quote] “ My dad told me to hide. [...] Women have been raped in front of their children and relatives, or publicly raped in a group to punish a whole community suspected of supporting a rival armed group. [...] Abandonment by husbands and discrimination by communities, because of the stigma attached to rape, leave them destitute and isolated. [...] The chances of treatment for the injuries of rape victims are negligible. [...] Local women’s and human rights organizations have responded with compassionate and positive initiatives, but are wholly unsupported by the government and only rarely by the international community.