THE shocking fact that 48 women are raped every hour in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is among alarming statistics in a just-released Caritas Australia report on sexual violence and conflict in the strife-torn region.
Fearless Voices: speaking up for peace, equality and justice in the DRC, was released to coincide with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women held on November 25 this year.
It has first-hand accounts of women and girl rape survivors in the war-torn North Kivu Province.
In the report, Caritas calls on the Australian Government, the Australian mining industry and the Australian community to sound their voice against the corruption and inequality that pervades Congolese communities and perpetuates conflict, instability and intolerable violence.
Caritas Australia’s DRC program co-ordinator Canberra-based Lulu Mitshabu fled her home in Zaire (now DRC) with her babies in her arms 25 years ago.
“Then my country would not tolerate a woman speaking out for truth and justice,” she said.
The new report highlights important progress towards peace, equality and justice in the DRC.
“However it also captures the urgent need to end impunity for violence against the nation’s strongest agents for change,” Ms Mitshabu said.
“My country has been ravaged by more than a century of exploitation and almost two decades of war.
“One of the greatest tragedies of this conflict is relentless, calculated and brutal violence against women and girls.
“In the DRC, it’s more dangerous to be a woman than a soldier.”
The latest report comes six years after the Forsaken Voices report when thousands of Catholics joined Caritas Australia to break the silence on desecration and plunder in the DRC.
Caritas Australia now has “listening houses” in the North Kivu province which embrace survivors of rape and sexual violence.
Since 2006, around 3000 women and girls have received medical support, trauma counselling, and training so they can start their own business and send their children to school.
Ms Mitshabu said, with the prayers and support of Australians and other countries, “Congolese women and men are sounding their fearless voices for peace, equality and justice in their vibrant communities”.
“For the survivors of rape and sexual violence, fear has no place in their future,” she said.
