First lady leads protest march against mass rape (Congo)

[Enrique]

Source: Al Jazeera

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/10/20101017181314911798.html

Thousands of women have marched against sexual violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the miseries of war have been compounded by mass rapes.

About 1,700 women who had attended a week-long forum on peace and development in Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, joined in the march on Sunday, which was led by Olive Lembe Kabila, the wife of the president, Joseph Kabila.

The atmosphere of the march was colourful and peaceful, and many demonstrators carried banners with slogans such as "No to sexual terrorism".

"Coming here is important because violence towards women is used systematically as a weapon of war," Miriam Nobre, an organiser of the march with the World March of Women, said.

The UN estimates that 15,000 women were raped in eastern DR Congo last year. Numerous Congolese and overseas rebel groups are active in the region, while government forces are also accused of mistreating civilians.

(...)




Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/10/20101017181314911798.html

[Prometheus Bound]

1. I read several reports on this and noticed only CP mentioned army officers had been prosecuted.

Others just report the defence ministry's denial that soldiers were involved.

Congo's defence minister denied soldiers were involved. But the justice minister said courts have prosecuted several officers, including a general.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hTXKjoj4gcz2pwEj7kxbeDR_oLCw?docId=4862549


Video of the demonstration: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/10/17/congo.rapes.march/