Support for sexual violence in DRC
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| Photo by Paula Allen / V-Day |
Fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has claimed over 5 million lives since 1998 - the largest death toll in any conflict since WWII. Hundreds of thousands of women and girls have been brutally raped since the war began, often with the use of tools and weapons. The violence is so obscene it has been described as sexual terrorism by doctors at the Panzi Hospital in Bukavu – where thousands of survivors are treated – since it aims to humiliate women, destroy their families and intimidate their communities. In 2006, 27,000 reported cases of rape and sexual violence were registered in South Kivu alone – a mere fraction of the total, since so many cases of sexual violence go unreported. Dr. Denis Mukwege and his colleagues started the Panzi Hospital in 1999 in Bukavu, South Kivu, to provide free care and treatment to victims of war, and particularly to women. Panzi started as a maternity hospital, but soon began treating women with severe internal injuries and obstetric complications from rape and other forms of sexual violence. More than 3,500 women undergo surgery at Panzi each year. The dedicated team of surgeons reconstruct women’s bodies and provide medical care, accommodation, food and support to survivors of sexual violence. Each week, the hospital’s mobile clinic visits outlying areas and brings more women to the hospital.
In conflict areas, violence and the virus go together. It is nearly impossible to gauge the real rates of HIV infection among the women who have been raped in the Congo, but at Panzi, an estimated 10% of women have tested HIV-positive. For those living with the virus, antiretroviral drugs are not widely available, and the food needed to tolerate the drugs is scarce.
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| Photo by Paula Allen / V-Day |
- psychosocial services for victims of sexual violence and the staff who support them HIV counselling, testing and treatment post-rape kits to reduce the likelihood of HIV infection immediately following an attack a safe blood screening centre and the equipment needed for blood testing and transfusions hot food for HIV/AIDS patients and outpatients school fees, uniforms and shoes for 400 children training for local leaders and caregivers to victims of sexual violence
- salaries for a number of nurses and project staff
With V-Day, the global movement to stop violence against women and girls, the Stephen Lewis Foundation is also supporting the construction of a ‘City of Joy’; a transitional housing complex where more than 150 women survivors of rape and abuse will be trained to become leaders in their communities.
Read a selection of speeches, articles and press materials about sexual violence in the DRC, the work of the Panzi and SLF support to the hospital.
DONATE TO THE PANZI HOSPITAL
Click here to donate to the Panzi Hospital. If donating online, please type 'Congo' in the message box. If donating by cheque or by phone, please specify 'Congo' in the message line of your cheque or to the person who takes your donation.