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Democratic Republic of the Congo

DRC

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has an estimated population of 67 million (UN, 2010). The capital is Kinshasa. The DRC has an area of 2.34 million sq km (905,354 sq miles). The main languages are French, Lingala, Kiswahili, Kikongo, and Tshiluba.

The DRC became independent in 1960. Since independence, the country has been overwhelmed by political and social instability. It is estimated that three millions people have lost their lives in the DRC war, either as a direct cause of the war or poverty. The countries immense resource wealth, coupled with the massive flow of refugees from Rwanda and Burundi and the presence of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) have fuelled the war in DRC.

Combatants use gang rapes, rapes, and sexual mutilation as weapons of war to terrorize the population. Women are repeatedly raped and sometimes held as sex slaves. The principal perpetrators of these crimes are the armed group combatants and government soldiers. Because of the culture of impunity, rape victims have no chance of getting justice.

  •   DRC ratified the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples'  Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (The Maputo Protocol) on the 9th of June 2008.
  • The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) was ratified by DRC on the 17th of October 1986.
  • DRC launched its National Action Plan on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) in June 2010.
  • There is a large UN peacekeeping mandate in DRC:United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) which is the UN largest peacekeeping mission. It was renamed as MONUCO ( United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Republic Democratic of Congo) on the 1st of July 2010. 

Source:BBC, AlertNet, CIA, UN, SIGI,

# Article Title Hits
1 DRC: UN Report Confirms Nearly 200 Women and Girls Raped by Congolese Troops, Rebels 63
2 DRC: UN Denounces Sexual Violence, Other Serious Violations in Eastern DRC 57
3 DRC: UN Sees 'Important' Step in Suspension of Officers Implicated in Mass Rapes 56
4 DR CONGO: We Did Whatever We Wanted, Says Soldier Who Raped 53 94
5 DRC: UN Envoy and DR Congo Sign Agreement to Tackle Sexual Violence in Conflict 80
6 DRC: National Leadership Crucial for Tackling Sexual Violence in DR Congo – UN Envoy 97
7 DRC: Britain to Fund £180m Medical Programme in DR Congo 86
8 DRC: UN Envoy Welcomes Return of Renowned Doctor to Clinic in Eastern DRC 51
9 DRC: UN Official Welcomes Security Council Action in Efforts Against Conflict-Related Sexual Violence 115
10 DRC: Tears of rape in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 80
 
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