Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
PHI 2010 T,R 11:15-12:30pm
33 comments:
Wilmer Almendares
said...
Women have become victims and targets of gang rape by militia groups for the sole purpose to claim victory over an opponent. Who is to blame for the mass physical and mental psychological trauma inflected to the women in Congo? One root problem which may contribute to this issue is the government. The Government has failed to impose laws and regulations that will prosecute perpetrators. Criminals will continue to carry out these dreadful acts until they are properly prosecuted, since they have no concern for human life. The lack of education also plays a major role to both men and women. As of 2007 the schooling for Congo’s citizens are as follows: 21% do not attend school, 46% attend primary, 30% secondary, and 3% attend university. The lack of education leads to the population being misguided in understanding basic human rights. Traditions and Cultures may provide these perpetrators and escape for their devious crimes. Women are looked down upon for coming forward and presenting inhumane acts committed against them to government authorities. Women in this culture are afforded minimal rights and are not looked upon to have an equal status to men.
The women in Congo are being degraded to the point where they feel less of a human being. The fact that a man can conceive the notion that it is correct to shoot or thrust a woman's vagina with a machete is preposterous. It is also inconsequential to inform the authorities because they will not engage in any action to bring punishment to the men who have committed these crimes. The Women for Women group have made these victims feel protected and strong again. Instead of turning these women away and isolating them from society, they are welcomed with open arms. They have people who are willing to go above and beyond for their journey to getting their life back together.
“Women have been reduced to nothing.” A phrase said by a woman to describe in the most simply words the cruel situation happening in Congo. Militia has reduced women to objects of pleasure to satisfy the rebel’s needs of power over women. The rebels have used rape as weapons of war to create fear in society trough pain indulge on women. As humans, our experiences as a child and the ideas taught to us as we were growing up defined the type of adult we are now. Some of those rebels were taken from their families when they were only little kids. Since then, those children have grown in a society (rebel groups) where rape is part of their lives. Those kids, adults now, believe that their battles against the enemy can only be won with magic powers, and those powers will only work if the soldiers rape women. This idea makes women an object of war to the point that rebels even believe that raped is patriotic act. Daily occurrences, whether bad or good, could be consider culture depending on each individual. The idea that gang rape could be a “cultural perversion” is not too far from the truth. Children watching their mother being raped and hearing the stories of many other women being raped, have developed the idea that rape is a normal part of women’s life. Therefore, many of these kids that one day will become rebels, start to see rape as part of a normal routine making it culture; however, those children still see the evil on rape. Seeing the evil but yet still doing it makes it a cultural perversion. This cruel act will only stop trough education of the young in order to reestablish the women’s value and the help of other countries in Congo.
The civil war in Congo has now been going on for more than 10 years. The reasons are as always the fight for independence, power, and resources. The endless battle between the militia of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the rebels (in the recent Kivu conflict, the Hutu forces) has left devastating desctruction in large areas of the country, whole cities have become ghost towns, and hundreds of people have died. Furthermore, the two most vulnerable groups, which we always seem to forget, have received the worst part of the aftermath, the women and the children. These women have become the main victims of gang rape by the militia groups. Gang rape is a horrid and heartless method to humiliate the opponent and its family. Often, as various women in the video explained, they are raped in front of their husband and their family, which are tied up and cannot prevent the horrible event. After the cruel sexual intercourse, many of the women are either tortured or killed. The physical pain that they receive aligns with the emotional pain and the trauma that these women have to suffer from. The fact that instead of prosecuting the rapists, the government of Congo punishes and exiles the victims, makes these horrid occurences even more perverse. How can the own government allow that these women who have suffered from such great pain do not receive justice. The upcoming generations of young women will live in constant fear and will not be able to maintain a normal and healthy life, but instead have to fight against two enemies, the militia, who resemble the rapists, and the government. In war the ones to suffer the most are not the hundreds of men that mindlessly kill each other, but it's the innocent, the women and children, who have to pay for the egoistic and naturally violent drive for power that characterizes mankind.
For a woman, nothing is more humiliating than raping. However, for many decades the Congolese women have been dealing with that terrified situation. They are left alone in that sad situation with nobody to defend them. Neither the Congolese authorities nor the foreign countries have stood up against those criminals who have been using rape as a weapon of war. The brutal abuse against the Congolese women by the rebels or the militia group may be considered as a crime against humanity. Their action affects the women physically and mentally. What is more disgraceful than using the strategy of raping woman to claim victory? Their actions must be banned by international community and brought them to justice. Any woman no matter her race or her political view deserves to be used sexually for whatever reason.
A method in which the militia groups of the Congo’s use to have a strategic win is attacking innocent villages, killing and rapping the members of the community. Which leaves the fortunate survivors with mental scares lasting their entire lives. It is striking and unbelievable to hear that people would do such barbaric acts like that in the century of today. Even more bizarre to hear is that the women who are rapped are the ones who “lose their value in society”. Their thoughts of how men and women in society are differentiated, are likely similar to those of savage cavemen. The women of the Congo’s are treated by society like emotionless objects rather than a living beings. It is good to see that many women of the Congo have decided to make a change for the better and help those who have been victims. But these crimes still continue to raid across the areas in the Congo.
The men who are performing these disgusting acts of rape, violence, and humiliating women in Congo may not even know what they are doing is wrong. Like the linked video suggested about the children of the raped mothers, the young boys in the army who grew up only knowing of guns, violence, and rape grow up to be the men who perform these acts. It might seem like a natural occurrence to these soldiers because it has been happening for over a decade now. That much war, violence, and hate will really screw with a persons concept on reality and life. The government is surely to blame here as corruption and greed takes over trickling down into women being raped. These men, who probably have no regard for any higher authority other than their own group or anyone else "below" them need to be educated and know this is one of the most horrible acts a person can commit on another. The increase in education will definitely help out for those who suffer in the Congo. Not only for children but for most adults hopefully as well.
“ A new weapon of fear.” The men of Rwandan, use abuse against women as their major weapon in the war going on in Congo. The article states that this war has been going on for ten years. My question is why are the men of Congo not doing anything to stand up and protect their women. These women are being striped of their dignity, and self esteem. They are being physically and psychologically tortured. These men are not only raping the women in addition they are killing them too. For the ones who survive these men are killing their sprits in addition to crushing their lives. Once the women have been raped they are reduced to nothing. Why is it that nothing is being done to stop this abuse on these women of Congo?
Megan, the militias invade a village and take people hostage. They kill the men and rape the women. There is ethnic as well as class conflict here. There's not much the men can do other than leave the country and become refuges.
The gang rapes in Congo are a reflection of mans nature. Violence and destruction has been evident to be a re-occurring behavior in human history. When various rapes occur at one time it is a reflection of the true darkness and evil that lye’s beneath our skin. Rapping a woman is not about a man getting carried away because he can’t control himself, but rather about having the power to control and humiliate and dishonor their victims (in this case) as women. The problem is that the society in which these women live are breeding and raising men to see women as a piece of property that is only to be used for their personal pleasure. It is heartbreaking to see that even today men are partaking in such inhumane behavior against women. What makes a man is not the amount of strength and power he has over a women, but rather the way a man treats and honors the one organism that gives life to mankind.
I discussed this with my sociologist friend. Originally I was looking at how the codes of even reasonably ethical societies are thrown out the window when they're pillaging a town and asserting dominance - in for a penny, in for a pound, right? I remembered the Vikings, ancient Greeks, even our own American troops committing gross acts of inhumanity in the war zone, for no better reason than their adrenaline was high and once you've dehumanized your enemy enough to take what's theirs, they're fair game for satisfying any animal craving for blood or sex you might get. People rape in war. It's what they do.
My friend rebutted this by pointing out the Palestinians and Israelis, who have been at war since forever but do not "lower" themselves to rape (they keep it clean with simply killing each other, heh). I brought up the religious aspect of their conflict - both groups are devout and if they didn't follow their moral codes in their war, they would quickly be forced to discard any religious pretext to their fighting. Religion, then, I theorized, is in their case overlaid on the base animalism of a warring human being and sublimates any urges they might have to rape their prey. This is not the case with the Congolese, who, from what I hear, are not too concerned with spiritualities. Their culture is one of brute force and self-service, and women, being easily dominated due to their physical weakness, are targets for devaluation and easy to use for the men's gratification. Having no lofty ideals, these people take what they want at anyone's expense if it's possible for them to do so.
At this point in our talk, we came to an impasse.
As an aside, every group in the Congo civil wars is a victim. I think the only reason men aren't being raped is because they don't have vaginas. For example, the Pygmy tribes are hunted and cannibalized by both sides, being thought of as game animals!
It is amazing how in just one month 179 women were raped by two to six men at a time. This is a horrible experience that women live in Congo everyday by these heartless “animals” (because they are not deserved to be called “men”). These women are raped in front of their children and families and after that most of them are tortured. These rapes make these women feel worthless and with no future because those criminals abused them and make them feel reduced to nothing. To conclude there is something that needs to be done very soon because if this problem continues , then the kids that experienced that event are going to grow up either with the idea of not trusting in anybody, or they are going to become heartless just like these criminals who do not care about women.
This has been an ongoing issue and little has been done to stop it. Women are being victimized and men are getting away with it. There is so much depth to this on going problem that I don't know where to start first. I feel that being raised the way I was I would never tolerate such a thing wether it happened to me or to someone I knew. But that is just it, since it is so frowned upon in their culture no one wants to speak up. Kind of an "unspoken crime" where everyone knows whats going on but nothing changes. I remember hearing this quote once -"If we all threw our problems into a pile, and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back." I don't know who said it but it is so true, and since then it has changed my way of looking at things. The things we find as big issues would probably never compare to what these women go through everyday, at least not for me.
What is happening to the women in Congo is horrific and the worst part is that unless some drastic changes are made this may keep happening. Right now the main cause is the civil war, because the militias go into the villages kill the men and then rape and torture the women. To them it is a moral victory since the women can’t stop them and since they have to keep it a secret so they are not looked down up on, the militias know it’s something they can do to degrade the women. It is unimaginable how one human being can do this to another because it is not even rape they are torturing and killing this women, the ones that survive are left with serious infections and trauma for the rest of there lives. This issue is bringing rise to another problem all those babies born because of the rapes with no father and the children who have seen many women being raped what is their perception going to be? They may think that it is normal and not see it has wrong since they probably won’t be taught that is wrong to do so. It seems this is creating a deadly cycle in Africa and something needs to be done to stop it. It is good to see organizations like Women for Women try to help these women overcome their fears and continue living their lives as normally as possible, but I believe more can and should be done and other countries should try to help and stop this because no one deserve anything like what this women are going through.
This sickening truth has been going on in the Congo for much of the last 10 years and has been largely ignored by the rest of the world. It's said to be one of the deadliest conflicts since World War Two. More than 4 million people have died, and hundreds of thousands of women have been raped. The government seems to be taking no action in helping these women receive retribution nor support for this injustice. Because this has been going on for so long it has become a norm in these communities and leaves these women “dead inside”. This irrevocable curse leaves these women shameful in their communities and sadly even their families. It is a way to ensure that communities accept the power and authority of that particular armed group. It is about showing terror and fear. To make a long story short, it is about using women as “a weapon of war”.
Women in Congo and other specific parts of the world are being victimized because of a horrible act called gang rape. It is even worse to know that once they are finally able to open up to someone and tell authorities about it they will be humiliated by their community and ashamed. To think that back in the day while men were at war women had the decision to stay home, take care of the kids and help the men out with anything they needed, and in return for them to be treated like this? Gang rape is something that shouldn't be tolerated, in no way should it be right to be molested by sticks or machetes. It seems to me like we are giving the men too much power, and making them feel like they have the right to do anything and not get punished for it. It seems to me like this can be considered as a cultural problem, because of this sort of violence were to happen in the United States it would have been taken care of.
The civil war that has been going on in Congo for a decade now is devastating especially since many people around the world don’t even know what is happening. These women have to go through such humiliating and traumatic events which make them loose trust in everyone. It is unfortunate that these men who strive for power, authority, and control do not get punished by the government. On the other hand the ones who get punished are the victims and their children. The children grow up with that memory of what happened to their mother and thinking it is acceptable to treat women that way. Fathers and husbands are not protecting their daughters and children the way they should be. The government lacks laws in order to discipline the people who have done wrong. It’s horrific to think about how these men rape the Congolese women in front of their families and communities. For them to become worthless to society and be abandoned from their communities is unbelievable. To lose respect from others because of a traumatic incident beyond the woman’s control is mind-boggling.
It is sad to see how something as degrading as rape, has become a "soft and secure prize" in Congo. I personally think that militia groups do this gang-rapes, as a code or tradition of their own dark set of values. This gore-sexual driven warriors know that these women are afraid of them, and that if they put up a fight they can risk their own life (even thought that they almost run the same chances if they don't). This act of indecensy has be going on for years in the Congo, because there is not a effective law enforcement institution, and since the cat isn't around, the mice roam around free.
I would have to agree with Wilmer for blaming Congo’s government for not bringing justice to this matter. I also have to agree with the fact that education would impact this issue greatly. With education, these people would learn basic moral values that are not based on religious, political ideals and so forth but on simply being a human and respecting each other. Besides the government, society is playing a huge role on harboring these rapists by looking down and blaming the victims instead blaming the offenders. They are becoming so disturbed that not even in the wild animal world, would we encounter such things. The women that are rapped are humiliated in front of their husbands and family members. As a woman, I cannot imagine the psychological effect this would bring to a human being. Women are being depraved of their freedom, since they should be allowed to choose who they give themselves to. And instead of having the support from their mates, the ones that are supposed to protect them, they are rejected for being “impure” for something they never chose to do. In our society, this would be a crime and most likely they would be punished, but in theirs, it is simply a consequence of war.
The stereotype that violent behavior makes a man more masculine is exploited in every society. However this is especially true in an undereducated society with super unequal rights between men and women. The vile ignorant men that rape the women of Congo, they wear it as a badge of honor or a grossly distorted symbol of their patriotism. And who supports them their society the men involved in these incidence are seen as men doing a necessary evil and the women (the victims) are to blame for the actions brought upon them. What lunacy! I want to plead the need for education that rape is WRONG and the rapist are to blame, moreover so is killing people. So instead I opt to plead for peace. Even though it's unrealistic in this time of war.
The stereotype that violent behavior makes a man more masculine is exploited in every society. However this is especially true in an undereducated society with super unequal rights between men and women. The vile ignorant men that rape the women of Congo, they wear it as a badge of honor or a grossly distorted symbol of their patriotism. And who supports them their society the men involved in these incidence are seen as men doing a necessary evil and the women (the victims) are to blame for the actions brought upon them. What lunacy! I want to plead the need for education that rape is WRONG and the rapist are to blame, moreover so is killing people. So instead I opt to plead for peace. Even though it's unrealistic in this time of war.
Women rape is a problem in low income societies that happen every single day in almost all countries around the world. These women get degraded to the lowest level of aggression that a human been can be. Rape not only destroys the women internally but also can destroy all kind of future dreams that they have to become a better person. Women for women is one of many organizations that try to help rape women to go back to an almost normal life providing education and economical support to the ones that survived this horrible attacks. However there are many others that get infected with HIV or other disorders that would not let them go back to a normal life, their will transmitted to their next generations and become a not ending problem that will be carried by years and years
It’s a very cruel point of view to see thousands of Congo women’s getting rape and being defenseless. Through time innocent children and young girls get raped and mistreated without any choice and end up being traumatize. Most of them have no choice but to be victims of indiscrete men. I understand that the militia can get away with the injustice they are creating. Much disease such as HIV, AID should be the reason for this nonsense to stop. I don’t think it would make men from the Congo even more powerful. Something must be done in order to save the young life of the future kids that still have many years to live and experience.
I recently watched an interview in which several Congo soldiers elucidated their reasons for violating their country women. In their dialogue, the combatants attempted to devise a distinction between their actions and the actions of foreigners, such as the Hutu people: soldiers rape to conquer the enemy and the Hutu foreigners embrace such abysmal behaviors simply because they spend too much time in the bushes. The Congolese warriors are dreadfully superstitious. They strongly believe magic potions will enable a victory, but their wizardry can only be successful if they violate women; the men are certain their victims understand that having sexual relationships with them will help them achieve triumph for their nation. When they were asked to divulge how they would respond if their wives, mothers, or sisters were victimized, most of them articulated that they could never accept such defilement done to their loved ones. One of the soldiers voiced he would murder the offender/s.
I would have to agree with Wilmer for blaming Congo’s government for not bringing justice to this matter. I also have to agree with the fact that education would impact this issue greatly. With education, these people would learn basic moral values that are not based on religious, political ideals and so forth but on simply being a human and respecting each other.
Education, fair distribution of wealth, infrastructure... no doubt crucial elements. What can we do to solve this problem?
The devastating crimes committed in Congo, by so called “soldiers” are the product of poor education, values, and the lack of government interest in the matter. Unfortunately, due the society’s below average up brings they look down on the victims, which is easier than prosecuting the animals that forever scar these women. If the government would take time to invest more money into the education of community, they just might install some moral values into the young people will allow this cycle to continue. Even informing those soldiers of the rules of war, so they might act like a moral human being. Government takes the biggest blame for harboring the criminals and allowing its people to punish their victims.
Civil war and ethnic conflicts have made Congo a place of hate, destruction, humiliation and fear. The horror of rape is everywhere. More than a half of rape victims are gang raped by armed men, in many cases, in the victims’ homes in front of the husband and children. The number of rape during the war and silence of traumatized and ashamed women has made the crime seem acceptable. The rebels use rape as a weapon of war to punish civilians, as a tool to satisfy “men’s needs”, disrespect and abuse women. They don’t get punished for that. They don’t think it’s wrong because woman has turned into nothing. Because the mentality of the society and cultural roots have made it acceptable for man to be “masculine” in that way, to use his physical power as a weapon of humiliation, abuse, torture and disrespect of women. The victims suffer the consequences. The raped women lose their values in the society, even “children don’t want to take food which was prepared by raped woman”. It’s necessary to bring world’s awareness to the issue, to give women the right to say a word and protection from those who abuse them on the daily basis. It’s necessary to point out and shame the “animal instinct” of a man who forces woman for sex and humiliate her having the privilege of physical strengths and indifference of the society. The whole mentality of the community should be changed: the women are not those who provoke sexual harassment but those who suffer from it. Women deserve and have all the rights to move from the victims to active citizens who are treated well. Their stories shouldn’t remain untold. The more people remain silent, the more women will be humiliated.
Women being raped, killed,and humiliated to show a form of victory of war? We as people would think the Congo government would put a complete stop to this madness. But they failed to compose some form or type of laws that will prosecute the militia and gangs that perform these acts on the women of Congo. These gangs have no sympathy for these innocent women that they are hurting. doing these things in front of the women families torturing them shoving machete's in to the women all of these things are crucial and the Congo government should put forth effort to put a end to the violence being done to these women. With that being said the bad things that these militia gangs are doing to these women must be stopped and shouldn't be a result of showing victory of a war. women should be treated with the up most respect at all times and places.
The gang rapes in congo are evidence of the lack of structure, love and just plain moral values. I think that these acts show that these people are completely lost and lack any humanity whatsoever. Having been brought up in a war torn society where young boys are kidnapped drugged and trained to be killers has caused people to loose all notion of what is right and wrong. All men women and children have become lost in pain suffering and live in constant fear of what tomorrow will bring. In a society such as this how can you expect people to have any judgement of right and wrong. What these people are in need of is some sort of guidance and enlightenment.
Gang Rape is one of the worst things a man can do to a woman. It causes pain, nightmares, depression, physical ailments, and lots more. Rape is so humiliating to a woman, it can cause a great effect in their life. It is sad to hear that soldiers are hurting hundreds of women and they take it as a "soft and secure prize". I understand why they would think of it as a victory. It is because it can harm a woman so badly mentally, in such ways that a woman might not ever recover from it. But, I don’t understand why they would think it is okay to shoot a woman’s vagina and penetrated them with a machete. It is simply just wrong. Why do they do this? Maybe it is because the boss is not around and they think they can do what they want. I wonder why something is not done about this. Why people just don’t care. Violence against women needs to stop.
The Congo has been cursed with ten years of suffering, hundreds of thousands of death, misery, and endless tears of pain and not ending there with many more years to come but worst then that is that someone in this earth knows this and has the resources and power to stop this and instead is playing blind just enjoying his position and life with his family probably having sons and daughters just the same age of those who have been tortured massacred and raped and have the coldness and evilness of letting them be caring for them and their society less than animals is also true that all this monster of war who are trying to have "in rapedpendance" they need education but way before that is the most important word in human society {LAW} and then {JUSTICE} then 'education' but the problem is that the cause of all this has it(THE GOVERNMENT) because the government is not making any laws to stop this or letting any other country act upon placing new laws to hunt and stop this atrocities and massacres.
33 comments:
Women have become victims and targets of gang rape by militia groups for the sole purpose to claim victory over an opponent. Who is to blame for the mass physical and mental psychological trauma inflected to the women in Congo? One root problem which may contribute to this issue is the government. The Government has failed to impose laws and regulations that will prosecute perpetrators. Criminals will continue to carry out these dreadful acts until they are properly prosecuted, since they have no concern for human life. The lack of education also plays a major role to both men and women. As of 2007 the schooling for Congo’s citizens are as follows: 21% do not attend school, 46% attend primary, 30% secondary, and 3% attend university. The lack of education leads to the population being misguided in understanding basic human rights. Traditions and Cultures may provide these perpetrators and escape for their devious crimes. Women are looked down upon for coming forward and presenting inhumane acts committed against them to government authorities. Women in this culture are afforded minimal rights and are not looked upon to have an equal status to men.
The women in Congo are being degraded to the point where they feel less of a human being. The fact that a man can conceive the notion that it is correct to shoot or thrust a woman's vagina with a machete is preposterous. It is also inconsequential to inform the authorities because they will not engage in any action to bring punishment to the men who have committed these crimes. The Women for Women group have made these victims feel protected and strong again. Instead of turning these women away and isolating them from society, they are welcomed with open arms. They have people who are willing to go above and beyond for their journey to getting their life back together.
Carolina Salinas
“Women have been reduced to nothing.” A phrase said by a woman to describe in the most simply words the cruel situation happening in Congo. Militia has reduced women to objects of pleasure to satisfy the rebel’s needs of power over women. The rebels have used rape as weapons of war to create fear in society trough pain indulge on women. As humans, our experiences as a child and the ideas taught to us as we were growing up defined the type of adult we are now. Some of those rebels were taken from their families when they were only little kids. Since then, those children have grown in a society (rebel groups) where rape is part of their lives. Those kids, adults now, believe that their battles against the enemy can only be won with magic powers, and those powers will only work if the soldiers rape women. This idea makes women an object of war to the point that rebels even believe that raped is patriotic act.
Daily occurrences, whether bad or good, could be consider culture depending on each individual. The idea that gang rape could be a “cultural perversion” is not too far from the truth. Children watching their mother being raped and hearing the stories of many other women being raped, have developed the idea that rape is a normal part of women’s life. Therefore, many of these kids that one day will become rebels, start to see rape as part of a normal routine making it culture; however, those children still see the evil on rape. Seeing the evil but yet still doing it makes it a cultural perversion. This cruel act will only stop trough education of the young in order to reestablish the women’s value and the help of other countries in Congo.
The civil war in Congo has now been going on for more than 10 years. The reasons are as always the fight for independence, power, and resources. The endless battle between the militia of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the rebels (in the recent Kivu conflict, the Hutu forces) has left devastating desctruction in large areas of the country, whole cities have become ghost towns, and hundreds of people have died. Furthermore, the two most vulnerable groups, which we always seem to forget, have received the worst part of the aftermath, the women and the children. These women have become the main victims of gang rape by the militia groups. Gang rape is a horrid and heartless method to humiliate the opponent and its family. Often, as various women in the video explained, they are raped in front of their husband and their family, which are tied up and cannot prevent the horrible event. After the cruel sexual intercourse, many of the women are either tortured or killed. The physical pain that they receive aligns with the emotional pain and the trauma that these women have to suffer from. The fact that instead of prosecuting the rapists, the government of Congo punishes and exiles the victims, makes these horrid occurences even more perverse. How can the own government allow that these women who have suffered from such great pain do not receive justice. The upcoming generations of young women will live in constant fear and will not be able to maintain a normal and healthy life, but instead have to fight against two enemies, the militia, who resemble the rapists, and the government. In war the ones to suffer the most are not the hundreds of men that mindlessly kill each other, but it's the innocent, the women and children, who have to pay for the egoistic and naturally violent drive for power that characterizes mankind.
- Lester Alvarez -
Good points. Don't mind me.
For a woman, nothing is more humiliating than raping. However, for many decades the Congolese women have been dealing with that terrified situation. They are left alone in that sad situation with nobody to defend them. Neither the Congolese authorities nor the foreign countries have stood up against those criminals who have been using rape as a weapon of war. The brutal abuse against the Congolese women by the rebels or the militia group may be considered as a crime against humanity. Their action affects the women physically and mentally. What is more disgraceful than using the strategy of raping woman to claim victory? Their actions must be banned by international community and brought them to justice. Any woman no matter her race or her political view deserves to be used sexually for whatever reason.
NEGOT JEAN LOUIS
A method in which the militia groups of the Congo’s use to have a strategic win is attacking innocent villages, killing and rapping the members of the community. Which leaves the fortunate survivors with mental scares lasting their entire lives. It is striking and unbelievable to hear that people would do such barbaric acts like that in the century of today. Even more bizarre to hear is that the women who are rapped are the ones who “lose their value in society”. Their thoughts of how men and women in society are differentiated, are likely similar to those of savage cavemen. The women of the Congo’s are treated by society like emotionless objects rather than a living beings. It is good to see that many women of the Congo have decided to make a change for the better and help those who have been victims. But these crimes still continue to raid across the areas in the Congo.
This appalling violence is not just about war. You have to understand that “war” is like a loaded claymore packed with hidden shrapnel. You wont know its inner atrocities there until it explodes in your face. Like necessary conditions, war does not exist without appalling violence and other unspoken atrocities. It comes with the territory. The womans identity is objectified as soon as it was treated as such. Created in the mind intangible and therefore becoming tangible. It begins from the root. Men. Our own tools to war. To understand the unfathomable behavioral depths of such perversions you will find answers. Man’s violence is a cultural perversion and can be talked about if kept in context. Large events happen because of smaller events that happen at a certain place and time. How do these rebels fund this operation? Where do these rebels buy arms and ammunition to further the campaign? “Rwandan Hutu rebels of the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR) continue to exploit gold and cassiterite in North and South Kivu provinces with the help of trading networks in Uganda, Burundi and the United Arab Emirates, while irregular arms deliveries have come from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Sudan.” Says the UN. One can treat this business behavior as exploitation. To stop this killing machine you will need some sort of large multinational coop along with the government. Pointing fingers wont solve the problem either. Education of the populace does help but wont solve it.You have to hit them where it hurts. Money is sort of like the law of conservation. It doesn’t get created or destroyed but just moves around. Money one uses to buy diamonds gets used to fund wars. It’s a reality one has to accept. And what role does misogyny play in such a society in perpetual violence? No doubt a re-education is in order but its going to take more to change a cup that is already full. -Jose Luis Guerra
The men who are performing these disgusting acts of rape, violence, and humiliating women in Congo may not even know what they are doing is wrong. Like the linked video suggested about the children of the raped mothers, the young boys in the army who grew up only knowing of guns, violence, and rape grow up to be the men who perform these acts. It might seem like a natural occurrence to these soldiers because it has been happening for over a decade now. That much war, violence, and hate will really screw with a persons concept on reality and life. The government is surely to blame here as corruption and greed takes over trickling down into women being raped. These men, who probably have no regard for any higher authority other than their own group or anyone else "below" them need to be educated and know this is one of the most horrible acts a person can commit on another.
The increase in education will definitely help out for those who suffer in the Congo. Not only for children but for most adults hopefully as well.
“ A new weapon of fear.” The men of Rwandan, use abuse against women as their major weapon in the war going on in Congo. The article states that this war has been going on for ten years. My question is why are the men of Congo not doing anything to stand up and protect their women. These women are being striped of their dignity, and self esteem. They are being physically and psychologically tortured. These men are not only raping the women in addition they are killing them too. For the ones who survive these men are killing their sprits in addition to crushing their lives. Once the women have been raped they are reduced to nothing. Why is it that nothing is being done to stop this abuse on these women of Congo?
Megan, the militias invade a village and take people hostage. They kill the men and rape the women. There is ethnic as well as class conflict here. There's not much the men can do other than leave the country and become refuges.
The gang rapes in Congo are a reflection of mans nature. Violence and destruction has been evident to be a re-occurring behavior in human history. When various rapes occur at one time it is a reflection of the true darkness and evil that lye’s beneath our skin. Rapping a woman is not about a man getting carried away because he can’t control himself, but rather about having the power to control and humiliate and dishonor their victims (in this case) as women. The problem is that the society in which these women live are breeding and raising men to see women as a piece of property that is only to be used for their personal pleasure. It is heartbreaking to see that even today men are partaking in such inhumane behavior against women. What makes a man is not the amount of strength and power he has over a women, but rather the way a man treats and honors the one organism that gives life to mankind.
I discussed this with my sociologist friend. Originally I was looking at how the codes of even reasonably ethical societies are thrown out the window when they're pillaging a town and asserting dominance - in for a penny, in for a pound, right? I remembered the Vikings, ancient Greeks, even our own American troops committing gross acts of inhumanity in the war zone, for no better reason than their adrenaline was high and once you've dehumanized your enemy enough to take what's theirs, they're fair game for satisfying any animal craving for blood or sex you might get. People rape in war. It's what they do.
My friend rebutted this by pointing out the Palestinians and Israelis, who have been at war since forever but do not "lower" themselves to rape (they keep it clean with simply killing each other, heh). I brought up the religious aspect of their conflict - both groups are devout and if they didn't follow their moral codes in their war, they would quickly be forced to discard any religious pretext to their fighting. Religion, then, I theorized, is in their case overlaid on the base animalism of a warring human being and sublimates any urges they might have to rape their prey. This is not the case with the Congolese, who, from what I hear, are not too concerned with spiritualities. Their culture is one of brute force and self-service, and women, being easily dominated due to their physical weakness, are targets for devaluation and easy to use for the men's gratification. Having no lofty ideals, these people take what they want at anyone's expense if it's possible for them to do so.
At this point in our talk, we came to an impasse.
As an aside, every group in the Congo civil wars is a victim. I think the only reason men aren't being raped is because they don't have vaginas. For example, the Pygmy tribes are hunted and cannibalized by both sides, being thought of as game animals!
-Jannine Snider
It is amazing how in just one month 179 women were raped by two to six men at a time. This is a horrible experience that women live in Congo everyday by these heartless “animals” (because they are not deserved to be called “men”). These women are raped in front of their children and families and after that most of them are tortured. These rapes make these women feel worthless and with no future because those criminals abused them and make them feel reduced to nothing. To conclude there is something that needs to be done very soon because if this problem continues , then the kids that experienced that event are going to grow up either with the idea of not trusting in anybody, or they are going to become heartless just like these criminals who do not care about women.
This has been an ongoing issue and little has been done to stop it. Women are being victimized and men are getting away with it. There is so much depth to this on going problem that I don't know where to start first. I feel that being raised the way I was I would never tolerate such a thing wether it happened to me or to someone I knew. But that is just it, since it is so frowned upon in their culture no one wants to speak up. Kind of an "unspoken crime" where everyone knows whats going on but nothing changes. I remember hearing this quote once -"If we all threw our problems into a pile, and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back." I don't know who said it but it is so true, and since then it has changed my way of looking at things. The things we find as big issues would probably never compare to what these women go through everyday, at least not for me.
What is happening to the women in Congo is horrific and the worst part is that unless some drastic changes are made this may keep happening. Right now the main cause is the civil war, because the militias go into the villages kill the men and then rape and torture the women. To them it is a moral victory since the women can’t stop them and since they have to keep it a secret so they are not looked down up on, the militias know it’s something they can do to degrade the women. It is unimaginable how one human being can do this to another because it is not even rape they are torturing and killing this women, the ones that survive are left with serious infections and trauma for the rest of there lives. This issue is bringing rise to another problem all those babies born because of the rapes with no father and the children who have seen many women being raped what is their perception going to be? They may think that it is normal and not see it has wrong since they probably won’t be taught that is wrong to do so. It seems this is creating a deadly cycle in Africa and something needs to be done to stop it. It is good to see organizations like Women for Women try to help these women overcome their fears and continue living their lives as normally as possible, but I believe more can and should be done and other countries should try to help and stop this because no one deserve anything like what this women are going through.
-Armando Guerrero
This sickening truth has been going on in the Congo for much of the last 10 years and has been largely ignored by the rest of the world. It's said to be one of the deadliest conflicts since World War Two. More than 4 million people have died, and hundreds of thousands of women have been raped. The government seems to be taking no action in helping these women receive retribution nor support for this injustice. Because this has been going on for so long it has become a norm in these communities and leaves these women “dead inside”. This irrevocable curse leaves these women shameful in their communities and sadly even their families. It is a way to ensure that communities accept the power and authority of that particular armed group. It is about showing terror and fear. To make a long story short, it is about using women as “a weapon of war”.
Women in Congo and other specific parts of the world are being victimized because of a horrible act called gang rape. It is even worse to know that once they are finally able to open up to someone and tell authorities about it they will be humiliated by their community and ashamed. To think that back in the day while men were at war women had the decision to stay home, take care of the kids and help the men out with anything they needed, and in return for them to be treated like this? Gang rape is something that shouldn't be tolerated, in no way should it be right to be molested by sticks or machetes. It seems to me like we are giving the men too much power, and making them feel like they have the right to do anything and not get punished for it. It seems to me like this can be considered as a cultural problem, because of this sort of violence were to happen in the United States it would have been taken care of.
The civil war that has been going on in Congo for a decade now is devastating especially since many people around the world don’t even know what is happening. These women have to go through such humiliating and traumatic events which make them loose trust in everyone. It is unfortunate that these men who strive for power, authority, and control do not get punished by the government. On the other hand the ones who get punished are the victims and their children. The children grow up with that memory of what happened to their mother and thinking it is acceptable to treat women that way. Fathers and husbands are not protecting their daughters and children the way they should be. The government lacks laws in order to discipline the people who have done wrong. It’s horrific to think about how these men rape the Congolese women in front of their families and communities. For them to become worthless to society and be abandoned from their communities is unbelievable. To lose respect from others because of a traumatic incident beyond the woman’s control is mind-boggling.
-Nicole Gelman
It is sad to see how something as degrading as rape, has become a "soft and secure prize" in Congo. I personally think that militia groups do this gang-rapes, as a code or tradition of their own dark set of values. This gore-sexual driven warriors know that these women are afraid of them, and that if they put up a fight they can risk their own life (even thought that they almost run the same chances if they don't). This act of indecensy has be going on for years in the Congo, because there is not a effective law enforcement institution, and since the cat isn't around, the mice roam around free.
Daniel Mendez
I would have to agree with Wilmer for blaming Congo’s government for not bringing justice to this matter. I also have to agree with the fact that education would impact this issue greatly. With education, these people would learn basic moral values that are not based on religious, political ideals and so forth but on simply being a human and respecting each other. Besides the government, society is playing a huge role on harboring these rapists by looking down and blaming the victims instead blaming the offenders. They are becoming so disturbed that not even in the wild animal world, would we encounter such things. The women that are rapped are humiliated in front of their husbands and family members. As a woman, I cannot imagine the psychological effect this would bring to a human being. Women are being depraved of their freedom, since they should be allowed to choose who they give themselves to. And instead of having the support from their mates, the ones that are supposed to protect them, they are rejected for being “impure” for something they never chose to do. In our society, this would be a crime and most likely they would be punished, but in theirs, it is simply a consequence of war.
Ana Paula Diego
The stereotype that violent behavior makes a man more masculine is exploited in every society. However this is especially true in an undereducated society with super unequal rights between men and women. The vile ignorant men that rape the women of Congo, they wear it as a badge of honor or a grossly distorted symbol of their patriotism. And who supports them their society the men involved in these incidence are seen as men doing a necessary evil and the women (the victims) are to blame for the actions brought upon them. What lunacy! I want to plead the need for education that rape is WRONG and the rapist are to blame, moreover so is killing people. So instead I opt to plead for peace. Even though it's unrealistic in this time of war.
kathia Pierre
The stereotype that violent behavior makes a man more masculine is exploited in every society. However this is especially true in an undereducated society with super unequal rights between men and women. The vile ignorant men that rape the women of Congo, they wear it as a badge of honor or a grossly distorted symbol of their patriotism. And who supports them their society the men involved in these incidence are seen as men doing a necessary evil and the women (the victims) are to blame for the actions brought upon them. What lunacy! I want to plead the need for education that rape is WRONG and the rapist are to blame, moreover so is killing people. So instead I opt to plead for peace. Even though it's unrealistic in this time of war.
Kathia Pierre
Women rape is a problem in low income societies that happen every single day in almost all countries around the world. These women get degraded to the lowest level of aggression that a human been can be. Rape not only destroys the women internally but also can destroy all kind of future dreams that they have to become a better person. Women for women is one of many organizations that try to help rape women to go back to an almost normal life providing education and economical support to the ones that survived this horrible attacks. However there are many others that get infected with HIV or other disorders that would not let them go back to a normal life, their will transmitted to their next generations and become a not ending problem that will be carried by years and years
It’s a very cruel point of view to see thousands of Congo women’s getting rape and being defenseless. Through time innocent children and young girls get raped and mistreated without any choice and end up being traumatize. Most of them have no choice but to be victims of indiscrete men. I understand that the militia can get away with the injustice they are creating. Much disease such as HIV, AID should be the reason for this nonsense to stop. I don’t think it would make men from the Congo even more powerful. Something must be done in order to save the young life of the future kids that still have many years to live and experience.
I recently watched an interview in which several Congo soldiers elucidated their reasons for violating their country women. In their dialogue, the combatants attempted to devise a distinction between their actions and the actions of foreigners, such as the Hutu people: soldiers rape to conquer the enemy and the Hutu foreigners embrace such abysmal behaviors simply because they spend too much time in the bushes. The Congolese warriors are dreadfully superstitious. They strongly believe magic potions will enable a victory, but their wizardry can only be successful if they violate women; the men are certain their victims understand that having sexual relationships with them will help them achieve triumph for their nation. When they were asked to divulge how they would respond if their wives, mothers, or sisters were victimized, most of them articulated that they could never accept such defilement done to their loved ones. One of the soldiers voiced he would murder the offender/s.
I would have to agree with Wilmer for blaming Congo’s government for not bringing justice to this matter. I also have to agree with the fact that education would impact this issue greatly. With education, these people would learn basic moral values that are not based on religious, political ideals and so forth but on simply being a human and respecting each other.
Education, fair distribution of wealth, infrastructure... no doubt crucial elements. What can we do to solve this problem?
The devastating crimes committed in Congo, by so called “soldiers” are the product of poor education, values, and the lack of government interest in the matter. Unfortunately, due the society’s below average up brings they look down on the victims, which is easier than prosecuting the animals that forever scar these women. If the government would take time to invest more money into the education of community, they just might install some moral values into the young people will allow this cycle to continue. Even informing those soldiers of the rules of war, so they might act like a moral human being. Government takes the biggest blame for harboring the criminals and allowing its people to punish their victims.
Civil war and ethnic conflicts have made Congo a place of hate, destruction, humiliation and fear. The horror of rape is everywhere. More than a half of rape victims are gang raped by armed men, in many cases, in the victims’ homes in front of the husband and children. The number of rape during the war and silence of traumatized and ashamed women has made the crime seem acceptable. The rebels use rape as a weapon of war to punish civilians, as a tool to satisfy “men’s needs”, disrespect and abuse women. They don’t get punished for that. They don’t think it’s wrong because woman has turned into nothing. Because the mentality of the society and cultural roots have made it acceptable for man to be “masculine” in that way, to use his physical power as a weapon of humiliation, abuse, torture and disrespect of women. The victims suffer the consequences. The raped women lose their values in the society, even “children don’t want to take food which was prepared by raped woman”. It’s necessary to bring world’s awareness to the issue, to give women the right to say a word and protection from those who abuse them on the daily basis. It’s necessary to point out and shame the “animal instinct” of a man who forces woman for sex and humiliate her having the privilege of physical strengths and indifference of the society. The whole mentality of the community should be changed: the women are not those who provoke sexual harassment but those who suffer from it. Women deserve and have all the rights to move from the victims to active citizens who are treated well. Their stories shouldn’t remain untold. The more people remain silent, the more women will be humiliated.
Women being raped, killed,and humiliated to show a form of victory of war? We as people would think the Congo government would put a complete stop to this madness. But they failed to compose some form or type of laws that will prosecute the militia and gangs that perform these acts on the women of Congo. These gangs have no sympathy for these innocent women that they are hurting. doing these things in front of the women families torturing them shoving machete's in to the women all of these things are crucial and the Congo government should put forth effort to put a end to the violence being done to these women. With that being said the bad things that these militia gangs are doing to these women must be stopped and shouldn't be a result of showing victory of a war. women should be treated with the up most respect at all times and places.
The gang rapes in congo are evidence of the lack of structure, love and just plain moral values. I think that these acts show that these people are completely lost and lack any humanity whatsoever. Having been brought up in a war torn society where young boys are kidnapped drugged and trained to be killers has caused people to loose all notion of what is right and wrong. All men women and children have become lost in pain suffering and live in constant fear of what tomorrow will bring. In a society such as this how can you expect people to have any judgement of right and wrong. What these people are in need of is some sort of guidance and enlightenment.
Gang Rape is one of the worst things a man can do to a woman. It causes pain, nightmares, depression, physical ailments, and lots more. Rape is so humiliating to a woman, it can cause a great effect in their life. It is sad to hear that soldiers are hurting hundreds of women and they take it as a "soft and secure prize". I understand why they would think of it as a victory. It is because it can harm a woman so badly mentally, in such ways that a woman might not ever recover from it. But, I don’t understand why they would think it is okay to shoot a woman’s vagina and penetrated them with a machete. It is simply just wrong. Why do they do this? Maybe it is because the boss is not around and they think they can do what they want. I wonder why something is not done about this. Why people just don’t care. Violence against women needs to stop.
- Cinderella Santos
The Congo has been cursed with ten years of suffering, hundreds of thousands of death, misery, and endless tears of pain and not ending there with many more years to come but worst then that is that someone in this earth knows this and has the resources and power to stop this and instead is playing blind just enjoying his position and life with his family probably having sons and daughters just the same age of those who have been tortured massacred and raped and have the coldness and evilness of letting them be caring for them and their society less than animals is also true that all this monster of war who are trying to have "in rapedpendance" they need education but way before that is the most important word in human society {LAW} and then {JUSTICE} then 'education' but the problem is that the cause of all this has it(THE GOVERNMENT) because the government is not making any laws to stop this or letting any other country act upon placing new laws to hunt and stop this atrocities and massacres.
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