I watched a documentary (the Greatest Silence) about the effects of the war in the D.R. Congo (Zaire).
The disgruntled soldiers have now turned their rage on unsuspecting women. At any time women ranging in age from 2 years old to 85 years old are being raped in the forests of the Congo, or even in their own homes.
Their husbands are brutally murdered then they proceed to rape the women or children. Sometimes up to 20 men at a time will rape one woman or child often destroying her bladder and reproductive organs.
They then take sticks, branches and the ends of their rifles and shove them in their vaginas, ripping through their uterus and rectums.
Almost 30% contract AIDS
Nearly each one of them, if they survive will have issues urinating for the rest of their lives.
Sexual violence is Taboo in the Congo so if a women has been raped she is rejected by her family and husband and must flee to the jungle to live out the rest of her days in shame.
I cried watching it and had nightmares last night and the night before. As a rape survivor I can sympathize with them in a way.
They have to live in constant fear of their lives and most of them are forever mentally and physically traumatized by these experiences.
I wanted to share this. It makes me grateful for the life I have, even though it is far from perfect.
http://www.womenforwomen.org/global-initiatives-helping-women/help-women-congo.php
