Mass Rape in North and South Kivu Provinces

This book is the result of an investigation of the factors behind the mass rape of women from 1996 to 2001 in North and South Kivu provinces during the 1996-2003 armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.Sexual violence against women in DRC in general and in North and South Kivu provinces, in particular, is believed to be the worst in the world. In these two provinces, women were raped, forced into prostitution, mutilated, and subjected to further inhumane acts such as shooting and the introduction of objects into their private parts. HIV and AIDS and other sexual transmitted diseases constitute some extra diagnosis associated with the victims. Perpetrators include men in uniform (rebels and regular forces), members of the community and even the United Nations'peacekeepers. Yet to date, no one understands why these women continue to be raped on a daily basis.Intriguingly, none of these interventionist countries have ever condemned sexual atrocities committed against women in DRC. Despite having a democratically elected government and legitimate institutions such as courts of law and tribunals, crimes of this kind committed against women continue unabated.