PRESSEINFORMATION

Zero tolerance for rape in Congo

Cologne/Bruxelles, July 10th, 2006. As the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) prepares for its first elections in 40 years next month, instability is on the rise in the volatile east of the country and the EU mission has a duty to protect women against all forms of abuse.

While European troops are being sent to Congo, medica mondiale and the European Women’s Lobby urge the EU mission to take additional measures to guard against the sexual exploitation and abuse of Congolese women and girls by EU soldiers and humanitarian personnel. “Despite the NATO-policy of zero tolerance for sexual violence and rape by soldiers and peacekeepers, we now that these standards have still not been translated into practice during military trainings”, said Dr. Monika Hauser, executive director of medica mondiale. “It is as if the rapes women suffered already through UN peace-keepers in 2003 and 2004 do not count at all for the decision-makers”.

In 2004, NATO adopted a Zero Tolerance Policy and developed training for the sensitisation of military personnel regarding trafficking in human beings. However, until now this training modules have not been used within EU Member States. But NATO’s ability to enforce standards of behaviour in its missions depends on Member States who are responsible for training, command and discipline of peacekeepers as they provide the troops. Prior training on matters of sexual conduct of these peacekeepers before joining NATO forces is vital. The EU must also impose harsher punishments on individual peacekeepers and on governments that fail to discipline offenders.

“Soldiers and peacekeepers must be trained and told in clear terms that rape and sexual exploitation will be swiftly investigated and severely punished”, said Kirsti Kolthoff, President of the European Women’s Lobby. “To ensure this, it is crucial that the EU Mission is accompanied by independent human rights observers who are gender-sensitive and could immediately report violations against women and girls’ human rights to the relevant national disciplinary and administrative bodies and to the Secretary- General of the UN.”

Congolese military and paramilitary are systematically raping women and girls in the Democratic Republic of Congo without getting punished. In a region ravaged by constant violence for much of the recent past, women have long feared for their lives but now face an alarming rise in brutal rapes that seem to defy humanity. With victims suffering the shock and pain of the initial violation, they are also traumatized by rejection and isolation, as their families often turn them out, due to the stigma and fear of reprisals from the usually armed and powerful perpetrators. The sexual violence perpetrated against women and girls is gaining a foothold in this society and psychological and physical distress is poisoning the community just as much as the spread of the HIV virus.

The human rights organisation medica mondiale and the European Women’s Lobby, demand shelter, professional support and justice for the women concerned and severe penalties for the perpetrators. Perpetrators should finally be brought to justice before both national and international courts – whether they are soldiers belonging to international troops or paramilitaries. Moreover, a code of conduct should be finally introduced as well as preparatory training entailing awareness raising about gender-specific violence.

Background information

 

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