TheCable

Save the Children International (SCI), a charity organisation, says the number of women and children facing sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have increased.

SCI made the disclosure in a statement issued on Thursday.

The organisation said the majority of cases in North Kivu occur as civilians flee the escalating fighting between the DRC army, the M23, and other armed groups.

This, it said, has forced more than 250,000 people, including about 130,000 children, from their homes.

SCI said psychologists working with its local partners in displacement camps in North Kivu, have documented massive evidence of sexual violence against children as young as nine.

The statement added that the organisation’s teams are treating survivors who are facing unwanted pregnancies, health complications, stigma, and suicidal thoughts, almost daily.

“What pains me the most is the seriousness of the atrocities being committed. Some survivors tell us several men raped them at the same time, and objects were used on them, such as knives, tree branches, and guns,” the statement quoted Elvis, a clinical psychologist with Heal Africa, SCI’s partner organisation, as saying.

“Others have been raped on numerous occasions, during different armed displacements, return movements or in search of something to eat in their village.

“These girls are left with unwanted and very high-risk pregnancies. Some survivors, no longer wanting to bear it, have the urge to commit suicide.

“I work with the survivor, so they know that what happened to them is not their fault. I establish jointly with the person or their relatives, a safety plan to mitigate the risk of suicide.

“There are also cases of some partners wanting to end their marriage because they believe their partner wanted it.

“Imagine the stigma, distress, guilt and rejection faced by these women and girls who are survivors of sexual violence. In these cases, if the partner is approachable, I do therapy sessions to find their family harmony.”

Last month, two SCI-supported health facilities in North Kivu were looted.

The current wave of violence follows a tumultuous year of heightened outbreaks of conflict in the region.

SCI said the statistics are likely to be underestimated, as sexual violence often goes underreported due to stigma and fear.

In many conflicts, sexual violence continues to be used as a weapon of war to terrorise women and children.

SCI called for an immediate end to the impunity of sexual violence by strengthening laws and enforcing them, while holding perpetrators to account.

The child rights organisation also called for increased investment, to strengthen and better coordinate the collection of data on sexual violence, and ensure survivors have access to adequate health and care services to support them on their road to recovery.