In the autumn of 2007, the New York Times, CNN, The Washington Post and Glamour Magazine ran articles detailing sexual genocide in the Republic of Congo following a report released by the United Nations. Each account lamented the intensity and frequency of sexual violence in Congo, which the U.N. had designated as "the worst in the world." Personal accounts of victims -- describing public gang rape, genital mutilation involving bayonets, chunks of wood and melting rubber, and forced rape by family members -- were revealed to the world by these popular news sources.
Nearly four years later, the mass rape of women and children in Congo has not only persisted, it has exacerbated. In May, the American Journal of Public Health reported roughly 48 rapes occur every hour in Congo -- and this is considered to be a conservative estimate. Rape was once used as a weapon of terror to destroy communities. However, the people of Congo's prolonged and constant exposure to the heinous act has normalized the crime. Rape is now used as a simple assertion of authority and control not just by those in the armed forces or in positions of power, but by neighbors, friends and even family members.
Sadly, sexual violence has become the core military strategy in conflicts around the world, including Burma, Colombia and the Sudan.
This is not to say that no efforts have been made to raise awareness and incite change in Congo. In September of 2009, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton oversaw the adoption of the U.N. Security Council Resolution of 1888 to pinpoint efforts to protect women from sexual violence in warzones. Numerous studies have been published that illuminate the deplorable, unthinkable statistics regarding rape in Congo. But the severity of this issue cannot be communicated in cold, harsh numbers printed in bold in a newspaper. The rape of women and children in Congo as a weapon of terror must be viewed as personal to each of us in order to form the building blocks of change. We simply must re-humanize its victims in order to help them.
Two crucial tactics may be highlighted for combating sexual violence in Congo. It is not enough to spread the word, as was done in 2007 by news sources. Real, finite steps have to be taken to alleviate the sexual abuse of women and children in Congo:
The author of this post usually writes about direct violations of religious freedom around the world, and how public policy can affect these abuses. In the case of Congo, before we discuss the right to pray, we must address the right to simply exist without the constant looming threat of sexual violence. We must re-humanize these women and children, and then work to guarantee the basic, inalienable rights they are granted as human beings.
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Sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...
Congo - Breaking World Congo News - The New York Times
And, that Conflict Minerals Act he's going on about is laughable because its premise is that consumer electronics, rather than the military industrial imperative, are driving the conflict in eastern Congo. And, because it makes no attempt to stop the aggression of mining companies who hire their own militias in Congo and other parts of Africa. Its focus is instead on distant manufacturers filing papers certifying something they can't plausibly certify---that their mineral inputs didn't come from conflict zones.
Step 2 - Same question -- how specifically? I don't have any of those products, and while I can encourage those I know (and even though I don't know) not to buy them, most people *already have* such devices. Are there campaigns to make these companies and those purchasing from them more aware? I know one person can make a difference...but I want to make a *bigger* difference than just one person! :)
There are indeed campaigns underway to educate CEOs and corporation on the conflict mineral issues. I would be more than happy to direct you to some of them.
A tragic predicament that deserves attention and compassion. Two good suggestions here--demand political leadership on this, and demand conflict-free products. Yes, it is a long shot, but better than doing nothing.
As long as we allow our governments to continue making the world safe for corporatism we will continue to see plenty of human suffering among the ordinary people of the world.
It is so easy to NOT buy something. Dogs and Grandmas seem to have fewer needs than most.
I'm being only somewhat facetious. WE are being sold a bill of damaged goods. We're not buying!
More importantly, we need to be pressuring Congress and forcing them to uphold the laws and regulations that already ban the use of such materials.
*In the first line, it should read "Democratic Republic of Congo";
*In item #2, it should be "conflict-free" rather than "chemical-free"
I agree with a few minor caveats - I don't think crisis fatigue is simply a white thing. I think it's a Western thing. That's why apart from occasional shocking headlines and hand wringing, nothing much is discussed about ongoing horrors in places like Africa and Haiti even in minority publications in America. These places are too far away and their problems too immense, complex, and horrifying for most Americans of any color to feel comfortable tackling, even verbally.
As for the U.N. being useless because there are too many minor countries with misplaced loyalties...the largest reason the U.N. did nothing during the Rwandan genocide is because Bill Clinton wanted to stay the heck out of the situation. The U.S. was one of the loudest countries seeking to divert attention from Rwanda and pressuring other countries to support the U.N.'s lack of involvement. The other notable one was France. Neither of these nations could be said to be small or minor or acting out of misplaced loyalty. They were immensely powerful nations that used their wealth and influence to excuse and permit genocide because it was inconvenient for them for the U.N. to get involved.