Neglecting to involve perpetrators of rape is causing more conflicts because NGOs and the government are not looking at the root of the problem, which is rebels strive on the recruitment of young boys, therefore, if these young boys are given the opportunity to better their selves and live in a stable environment, rebels will lose members and eventually shut down.
Background: Conflicts in Congo
Congo has experienced several wars and conflicts, which has left the country severely damaged in the last decade. The first conflict in Congo started in 1996, when Kagame, the president of Rwanda send troops to Eastern Congo looking for former perpetrators of Rwanda Genocide. One of the main reasons Kagame send troops to Congo was to try and bring justice to the Tutsi people, but the revenge genocide has, unfortunately, escalated into a decade long war. “Most Rwandan troops that invaded Eastern Congo believed that former perpetrators of the Rwandan genocide and over 2 million Hutus took refuge after Kagame came in power” (Planz, 2009). The Tutsi government believes that for the fighting to stop between two countries (Congo and Rwanda), the perpetrators of Rwanda genocide should be brought to justice. When Kagame came in power, he was willing to do anything necessary to make the Hutu people take responsibility of the Rwanda genocide that occurred in 1994. The 1996 invasion of Eastern Congo began a very brutal war that has lasted for over a decade and as a result, millions of innocent lives have been taken away. In an interview conducted by Planz, Eastern Congo residents said,
“They were walking through the village with no-one stopping them, with so many guns, not talking to anyone. We were so afraid that this could only bring us more fi...
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Every woman in Eastern Congo is faced with the burden of finding means to provide for themselves and their children. Women in Congo are socialized to prepare themselves for marriage; therefore sex is only supposed to be between two married people. Taboos related to sex push women out of society because they are not considered marrying material. Loss of identity is often experienced by victims of rape because they are either no longer viewed as girls or wives. Fear is also embedded in the lives of these women because they do not have family support to help them move past traumatic experiences of rape. Due to fear and shame, some women refrain from receiving professional medical advice or counseling because they dread societal stigmas that are attached to wartime rape. Societal shifts will discuss issues such cultural/ethnic cleansing, torture and HIV/AIDS.
...ls, chiming their ominous message. The village women, perhaps the first to realize the horrible gravity of the situation, weeping, bared their souls as they walked with sorrowful hearts to the cemetery. The religious procession, with their full regalia and stoic expressions, belied the emotions that were surely heavy laden. Their slow, methodical pilgrimage hinted that they were beginning what would ultimately be a funeral procession. The brave young men, escorted by their elder counterparts, were led to their slaughter much like sacrificial lambs. The fact that they were escorted sends the message that they were truly doomed, much like prisoners being led to their executions.
Rape can happen to anyone. Women from different cultures, races, ages, and economic level are all vulnerable. It does not matter who you are or where you live, although women of lowest status are most vulnerable to rape, and so are Hispanic and African American women. (An...
The RPF decided to create a government consisting of a Hutu and a Tutsi holding the highest government positions. As the RPF took control of the government, “some two million Hutus – both civilians and some of those involved in the genocide – then fled across the border into DR Congo… fearing revenge attacks”(“Rwandan Genocide: 100 days of slaughter”). However, the violence did not stop here. The RPF then became angry at the Democratic Republic of Congo, claiming that the Democratic Republic of Congo “letting[let] Hutu militias operate on its territory” (“Rwandan Genocide: 100 days of slaughter”). As a result of the RPF’s claims about the Democratic Republic of Congo, they have invaded the Democratic Republic of Congo two times(“Rwandan Genocide: 100 days of slaughter”). The problems of the Rwandan Genocide has led to chaos in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has caused around 5 million deaths(“Rwandan Genocide: 100 days of slaughter”). In an attempt to punish those who were involved in the genocide, a large number of people have been sent to court. This genocide goes to show you how seemingly small problems between two groups can grow over time if not addressed, and cause major problems in the
Africa has been an interesting location of conflicts. From the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea to the revolutionary conflict in Libya and Egypt, one of the greatest conflicts is the Rwandan Genocide. The Rwandan Genocide included two tribes in Rwanda: Tutsis and Hutus. Upon revenge, the Hutus massacred many Tutsis and other Hutus that supported the Tutsis. This gruesome war lasted for a 100 days. Up to this date, there have been many devastating effects on Rwanda and the global community. In addition, many people have not had many acknowledgements for the genocide but from this genocide many lessons have been learned around the world.
Female genital mutilation (also known as female circumcision) is the cutting of female clitoral hood and removing clitoris. Following the cutting of female genital organ, there are many short-term and long-term health risk problems, and even death due to some complicated infections. The reasons for performing female genital mutilation are connected with socio-cultural beliefs, attitudes, values and customs, transition of girls into womanhood, tradition and cultural heritage, the fear of not having access to resources and opportunities as a young woman, perception to reduce sexual desire of females; hence, will sustain premarital virginity, and maintain marital fidelity. Actions have taken at international, national and regional levels since the past many years and have begun to bear fruits, but the practice is still undergoing in many countries in the world and highly prevalent in Africa. To continue and motivate further reduction in changing the society’s attitudes towards female genital mutilation in the countries where the prevalence has remained stable so it’s therefor...
focused cognitive behavioral therapy for sexually exploited, war affected Congolese girls. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 52, 359-369.
Zurbriggen, E. (). Rape, War, And The Socialization of Masculinity: Why Our Refusal To Give Up Was Ensures That Rape Cannot Be Eradicated. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 34, 538-539
Considering that roughly 80% of sexual assault cases in the military were not reported, a conservative estimate indicates that around half a million female veterans may have been victims while in service (Ziering & Dick, 2012). The Invisible War illustrates the horrible battles that female and male veteran rape victims faced after experiencing retaliation. Widespread victim-blaming can be attributed to the misogynistic culture that persists in the military as well as the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) lack of concrete responses. Unresolved sexual assault cases can affect the desire of women to either enter service through the military academy or advance in their careers through attending academies. The implications of the perceptions of
As a social construction, rape is created in the context of eroticization male dominance and female subordination. It also bases itself on the assumption that gender is a predetermined that distinguishes people into two distinct categories. Although rape is real, it is rather enabled by misconceptions. In order to envision a society without rape or less rape, it is radical for people to recognize that social construction has had enormous impact on how it is practiced and perceived.
Sharlach, Lisa. “Rape as Genocide: Bangladesh, the Former Yugoslavia, and Rwanda.” New Political Science. 22:1 (2000): 89-102. Google Scholar. Web. 28 April 2014.
...apidly our world today. There are hundreds of places people may go and visit for help or more information about rape and sexual violence. It is very important that when and if it happens, the victim needs to report the crime to authorities immediately. People must know the truth about rape and sexual violence and what to do about it.
Traditional sex scripts of men and women create for a rape-supportive culture (Check & Malamuth, 1983). Rape is a logical extension of our sex role socialization process that legitimized coercive sexuality. Through these scripts men are taught to take initiative and persist attempts of sexual intimacy. Traits of dominance, aggression and violence are idolized (Martin, Taft & Resick, 2007). Women, on the other hand, are taught to not indicate their sexual interest or engage freely in sexuality. They should possess qualities of being passive, submissive and sexual gatekeepers (Martin, Taft & Resick, 2007).
Over a period from 1960-1965, the first Republic of the Congo experienced a period of serious crisis. There was a terrible war for power that displayed senseless violence and the desperation to rule. There were many internal conflicts among the people. The country eventually gained independence from Belgium. For many countries this would be a time for celebration. Unfortunately for the people of the Congo this became a time to forget. Almost immediately after independence and the general elections, the country went into civil war. Major developed cities like Katanga and Kasai wanted to be independent from the Lumumba government. Different factions started to fight the government and Katanga and Kasai tried to secede from the rest of the country out of fear of the mutinous army that was out of control looting and killing.
Webster’s Dictionary describes rape as the crime of forcing another person to submit to sex acts, especially sexual intercourse. Rape is a crime in which most women cannot defend themselves. The fear of rape plagues every woman at some point or another in her life. The traumatic effects of rape vary from mild to severe, from psychological to physical. This paper will evaluate rape, as well as the effects it has on women, the theory behind male dominance and patriarchy, and differences in demographics.
Over the last year and half, it has been uncommon to see the word “India” in the news without the word “rape” accompanying it. In one instance, a 16-year-old girl from Dabra, India was raped by at least eight men for three hours. The assault was video taped and shown to the members of her village, including her family. After seeing the video her father committed suicide (Yardly). In another, a 23-year-old student was raped in a bus and died from her injuries, and in two separate occurrences 5 year old and a 4 year old were both abducted and brutally assaulted (Park).