The stigma of rape in Eastern DR Congo
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"Doctor, it’s really good and safe to stay here with you now that I’ve been
cured", says the little girl, a victim of rape in South Kivu in eastern
Democratic Republic of Congo.
The young girl was admitted to Panzi Hospital with rape-related complications.
After finishing her treatment, she didn’t want to go back to her home village.
She was afraid of being raped again, and she feared the discrimination and
stigmatisation she would face from her own community. Eventually, however, she
did return home.
Hospital Director Mukwege said: "Two months later, the young girl was
brought back to Panzi Hospital with very severe multiple-level tearing following
yet another rape. She was in a coma, in a state almost beyond repair".
Rape is a weapon
 Rape
is widespread in the eastern part of the country. It has been used as a weapon
of war by all sides in the conflict and causes lifelong physical, psychological
and social suffering to tens of thousands of women and girls.
Panzi hospital has treated over 3,000 women victims of sexual violence since
1999. The hospital provides medical and psychological support, and also helps
women who are struggling to re-integrate into their communities by giving them
training in new skills such as sewing. They are tested for HIV on arrival in the
hospital and they receive medical care and the necessary counselling where
appropriate.
Dealing with fistula cases
With DFID support, Panzi Hospital is building a specialised wing to treat
fistula – a debilitating genital injury that can be caused by prolonged or
obstructed labour, or by rape. It can leave women in terrible pain and
incontinent. And sufferers are often stigmatised by their communities.
 See
UN's End Fistula campaign for more information on this injury
Giving communities security and restoring the rule of law in DRC the only way to
stop the scourge of sexual violence. DFID is working with the government of DRC
on a long-term plan for reform of the justice sector. We are also supporting
human rights training for members of the new DRC army and training for justice
sector workers such as magistrates and the police to deal with cases of sexual
violence.
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Key facts
- The reconstruction needs of the DRC are huge. DFID has begun work with
the Transitional Government on longer term plans to rebuild DRC’s public
services and infrastructure. DFID is also working with other partners to
fund construction, health and education projects that will bring more
immediate benefits to communities in the DRC. DFID is helping the
Government, the UN and NGOs to tackle HIV/AIDS. Total available funding for DRC in 2006/7 is £62 million
- DFID is supporting Panzi Hospital with a £440,000 three-year programme
from July 2005 to June 2007. The hospital currently sees 400-500 fistula
cases a year
- The programme involves:
- fistula training for doctors and other health professionals
- costs of fistula operations
- construction and equipping of a dedicated theatre and wards for fistula
work
- training in safe motherhood, pregnancy risk reduction for midwives etc.
- The current bed capacity is 170 but the number of patients is 350-360.
100 additional beds will be available once the new wing is completed.
February 23, 2007
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