Soldier found guity of raping woman is freed, then rapes her daughter

President of DRC moved by horrific tales

The story of rape in war and how some people are trying to stop it

Two women victims of rape in the Democratic Republic of Congo have told President of DRC Joseph Kabila their horrific stories of having been raped by Government soldiers.

It happened in Kinshasa during the week long campaign to stop rape in conflict. Launched simultaneously on 11 May in four countries - Colombia, Kenya, Burma and DRC - the week was supported by the Nobel Peace Women's Initiative.

According to Mairead Maguire who was present at the meeting with President Kabila, he was visibly moved by the women's stories.

On lst January, 2010, he heard, army soldiers had come into their village. They raped the women along with fifty others, brutalized a further twenty five with sticks and weapons. They burned the village and left. The women had not got medical care. Three days later the soldiers were brought to a Mobile Court and found guilty but they were released after only a few days to rejoin their military units.

The soldier who had raped one woman, had returned to the village after his release and raped her 14 year old daughter.

In a cruel twist, although the women got judgement in their favour, they got no Court Order because they had not the money to pay for it. This means they cannot even apply for compensation. Women who are raped but who do not receive compensation are often abandoned by their husbands after the rape, and young unmarried girls are stigmatized and abandoned by their families.

Earlier that week when a delegation met with the Justice Ministry official, he promised they would take up these cases and provide Orders for the women. He also promised that, in future, Court Orders would be provided free of charge.

The delegation that received this promise were accompanied b Ann Patterson and Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire from Northern Ireland. Both women are indefatigable workers for justice and peace and they have visited several countries throughout the world both in conference and protest.

See Full text of Mairead Maguire's colourful account of visit: three little dogs