The War Within the War

Sexual Violence Against Women and Girls in Eastern Congo

SUMMARY

RECOMMENDATIONS..

To the Government of Rwanda and the Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie (RCD)

To the Mai-Mai and predominantly Hutu armed groups operating in eastern Congo

To the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo

To the United Nations

To Donor Governments

METHODOLOGY

Context

SEXUAL VIOLENCE AS A WEAPON OF WAR..

Identifying Perpetrators

Sexual Violence in South Kivu

Sexual Violence in North Kivu

Extraordinary Brutality

Children and the Elderly

Forced Labor

THE AFTERMATH OF RAPE AND OTHER FORMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Stigmatization of Victims

Medical Consequences and HIV/AIDS..

INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY RESPONSES..

Strategies of Protection

Response by Civil Society

THE RESPONSE OF THE AUTHORITIES..

Lack of Protection

Justice and Impunity

LEGAL PROTECTION AGAINST SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Congolese Law..

International Law..

RESPONSE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

The United States

The European Union

The United Nations

International Action on HIV/AIDS..

The World Bank

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..

APPENDIX I: Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court- Articles Relating to Jurisdiction

APPENDIX II: The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women