Recurrent fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will always negate efforts made in the fight against rape and sexual violence on women and children in the region. But, as a book by the country’s Military High Court launched at the just concluded 29 th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa reveals, there is a lot of work being done to bring justice to victims and ending impunity by punishing those who perpetrate and use rape as a weapon of war.
The DRCongo government’s zero tolerance commitment on this pandemic atrocity is well documented, and yet most of its efforts in eradicating the horrors of conflict-related rape and sexual violence, remain unreported.
Ms Jeanine Mabunda – a prolific women’s rights champion, and President Joseph Kabila’s Personal Representative on Sexual Violence and Child Recruitment – is first to admit that the volatile situation in her country still remains an encumbering monster in the fight to end rape and violence on women atrocities in the affected regions.
“I have had the privilege of leading the fight against sexual violence and child recruitment in the DRC for almost three years now, and I will not deny that it is a hugely challenging task. The DRC is recovering from one of the heaviest fighting Africa has had the misfortune to experience…and there are those who took advantage of this conflict to commit terrible crimes including acts of sexual violence and forced recruitment of children into military and armed groups,” she lamented adding:.
“We are not without our problems today and outbreaks of unrest continue, for example recent fighting, especially in Kasai province. But we are taking big steps in fighting impunity by punishing those who commit these acts of sexual violence…we are not complacent, even if we are still a long way to go. We will continue to fight for justice for the victims, and end the impunity of the perpetrators of these crimes.”
The 369-page book, written by the magistrates of the DRC’s Military High Court in partnership with Ms Mabunda’s office – was launched on 4 th July in at an event which was attended by President of Gabon Ali Bongo Ondimba, the African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security Smail Chergui and other influential voices including Ms Bineta Diop, the AU’s Special envoy for Women, Peace and Security.
In his remarks Mr Chergui praised the DRC government for the efforts it is making to end the scourge stating: ” The African Union congratulates President Joseph Kabila for his personal commitment to ending the barbaric practices of subjugating the weaker in society – women and children – to all forms of sexual violence.”
President Kabila was at the African Union during the launch and momentarily greeted the organising team outside the event’s venue in an expression of support. He was represented by his Foreign Minister, Leonard She Okitundu, who stated in his speech that the book was ” an important milestone marking the country’s total intolerance for those who commit acts of sexual violence.”