One Congolese Woman Uses Radio As A Weapon Against Rape

As newspapers crumble in the United States, radio is flourishing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It's not a tactic to keep the media in business, however; it's a weapon, and women are the unlikely ones wielding it.

Chouchou Namegabe Nabintu, a round-faced, bright-eyed young woman, founded the Association des Femmes des Medias (Women's Media Association, or AFEM) in 2003 in response to the violence and atrocities during the DRC's long, bloody, and still-not-over-yet war. Women experience some of the worst of these crimes: since 1998 over 40,000 rapes have been reported, a majority of them in the Kivu region where Nabintu is from.

"The aim is not to kill but to make suffer," Nabintu said, in an interview in Washington, DC, where she received a Global Leadership award from the Hillary Clinton-founded nonprofit Vital Voices on Thursday night. "Some women begged to die rather than be forced to submit to sexual violence. 'No,' the rebels said. 'We can't give you a good death.'"

Nor do victims go on to have a good life. A raped woman is often cast out of her family or her community. She is likely to die of starvation or disease--not surprisingly, the prevalence of HIV-AIDS has also risen dramatically in the Kivu region.

Compounding the problem is women's silence. They are not generally part of civil society, the majority are illiterate, and few have jobs. Nabintu's own father discouraged her from pursuing a career. After studying theater in secondary school, Nabintu announced she wanted to be an actress.

Her father was first shocked and then outraged. He insisted she at least become a teacher so she could help educate her younger siblings; when she refused he beat her. Finally, he gave her an ultimatum: if she wanted to act, she would have to get married.

Nabintu--who laughed when she relayed the story--told her father she was too young to get married. Instead, she took a job at a radio station playing a likeable character in a popular drama. Before she turned twenty, she was locally famous.

"People said, 'How can a lady talk on the radio? How can she speak in front of so many people, especially men?'" Nabintu shrugged, then answered her own question: "I am not someone who likes the status quo."

Nabintu, along with the five other recipients of Vital Voices' Global Leadership Awards, has pushed the status quo sufficiently to change her society. Through the organization AFEM, Nabintu broadcasts testimonials of women who have been raped. The experience of telling their stories is often healing for the women. In addition, hearing other stories on the radio inspires many other women who suffered sexual violence to seek medical help or feel less ashamed.

The broadcasts also insist that rape cannot be tolerated. The word "rape" does not even exist in many tribal languages in the eastern Congo; to describe it, Nabintu and her fellow journalists had to borrow from other Swahili dialects.

Finally, the broadcasts are serving as ammunition against some of the very people who perpetuated the violence. When the Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga was brought to the International Criminal Court, rape was not listed as one of the charges.

"They said, 'We have no proof,'" Nabintu said. Shortly after, Nabintu and her team showed up at the Hague with 400 radio broadcasts documenting the abuses women suffered at his hands. Lubanga remains in custody, where the Prosecutor is petitioning to expand the charges brought against him.

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Comments

[InclusiveSecurity]

While it is important to recognize the damage that men do to women during war, it is also important to realize the power and authority that women have to be agents of change – to help themselves and others.

The Institute for Inclusive Security has recently published a guide for the international community with specific tools to increase the number of women in government, particularly in post-conflict settings. It includes stories of change in Afghanistan, Cambodia, and Rwanda.

Check out Strategies for Policymakers: Women into Government at: http://www.huntalternatives.org/pages/7844_bringing_women_into_government.cfm

[fedupinfla]

I've always wondered just what could twist a man's soul to make him capable of rape. What kind of deep seated hatred is inside him could make him look at a woman and say "I want to destroy her & make her suffer." What makes a man look at a woman as less than human?

These women need to be protected and if their goverment is either unwilling or unable to do its duty, then the rest of the civilized world needs to make a stand in their behalf. PERIOD!!!

[Angela Barnes]

I have long felt a deep disturbance in my soul in regards to the systematic gang rape (ethnic cleansing, etc.) of women - from the Congo to Darfur - it has got to stop.

To worry on a daily basis as to whether or not you will have intruders come into your village or home, gang rape you and your children, then be exiled from your family - is truly hell on earth. I do agree with previous posts that these women should be allowed to take up arms and protect themselves. Even the mentally ill will call it quits once confronted with force.

The use of the radio testimonies as evidence was genius and an apparent blow to the opposition. Please let the public know if there is a way that financial support may be sent to Ms. Nabintu for her endeavors . . . believe the money would be spent to spread education of this crime.

To the leaders of these countries that allow/encourage this and the cowards that indulge - a country's downfall is in its inability to protect their women - there is no life nor future without our general well being in tact.

[SuzyQ08]

What a brave and intelligent woman... very inspiring.

[SalB]

How horrible a society that victims of crimes are punished for it by being cast out....

Only, pretty much all societies ostracize the victims of rape and "domestic" violence

[Babele]

Women in the Congo need to band together and arm themselves. It is only fair for them to be able to protect themselves against this kind of violence. Education only goes so far. Other very clear messages need to be sent.

[stefiz]

what an amazing person!!

[ram1952]

OMG! What a beautiful woman! So the Congolese have this great goddess as their saviour on the air waves, while America has Rush with cysts on an unmentionable part of his anatomy fouling their air waves! God has no sense of justice!

[Kieran]

Nabintu is truly an avenging angel, and the use of radio to illuminate is brilliant. Congratulations to her and to the work of Vital Voices in honoring women who fight back.

When women are truly free, the world will finally change.

[PlayTOE]

I'm glad to see Hillary Clinton lending her name to gain media attention for Chouchou Namegabe Nabintu and the problem of RAPE in African civil violence.

A crime against women is no way to make a political statement, and should never be tolerated.

Chouchou Namegabe Nabintu is making a difference.

[brooklyncitizen]

A lot of this stems from the spillover violence that occurred in Rwanda. Many of the people that fled camped out in Congo and are actually perpetrating a lot of this violence.T­ens of thousands of women have been raped and mutilated.­It is sexual terrorism and has been happening for over three years.Sinc­e their war began 4 million Congolese have died.

http://www.democracynow.org/2009/2/9/playwright_v_day_founder_eve_ensler

http://www.democracynow.org/2007/10/8/they_are_destroying_the_female_species

[BruntLIVE]

She is makeup-less and so pretty. Mother nature she is.

[LeftLeanWing]

Off-topic.­...... but....... she is radiant and beautiful !

[davidwayneosedach]

Kudos to them. They now have the world listening.

[BelGazou]

It is truly horrific to see how little these societies value their women. Women are not merely marginalized, when they are not ignored they are abused. In a society that can either only ignore or abuse it's women, neglect is a status much to be hoped for. It is no wonder that women there mostly keep silent. It is a leap in light years that these women can even get on radio and speak to each other. And how very far have they still to go.

[helpontheway]

this is a worldwide problem of rape culture and femicide--even in our "advanced" society, check out the rates of sexual abuse, rape, and domestic violence against women in the US. It's sickening, and chances are you know several women close to you who have been victims. Many, if not most are silent victims who live with soul-gnawing pain for the rest of their lives in addition to physical injury, disease, and unwanted pregnancy.

[BelGazou]

True, but we at least have recourse here although the culture hasn't yet caught up with the laws, we have a right to medical care, abortions, legal rights and punishment of the perpetrator. Changing the laws always has to come first; allowing abuse and rape to continue without them gives abuse, rape and murder official sanction.