Effects Of War In Congo Among Women And Girls

By: Lilian Njeru

Worth Noting:

• The intensification of conflict has led to a surge in sexual violence, particularly in displacement camps. In 2023, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) treated over 25,000 women for rape, marking a 152% increase compared to previous years. This alarming rise underscores the urgent need for improved living conditions and security in these camps. With limited ways of earning a living being in the camps and being unable to access their farms women and children are going to bed hungry.
• In fact, a recent analysis by CARE DRC found that 60% of the people displaced in the DRC are women. As many flee their homes, some have died due to the lack of adequate rations in the camps as humanitarian organizations struggle to meet the rising influx of people against dwindling funding.

The war in Congo has profoundly affected the whole country with the roots going back to the 1990’s .The first and the second war (1996-1997) and (1998-2003) respectively, were pivotal moments which led the country into instability. However, in 2003 there was an official end of the second Congo war, the DRC has reminded in a state of armed conflict.

Women and girls in the DRC have been profoundly affected, particularly in the conflict-ridden eastern region, where issues such as rape are used as weapons of war. Reports reveal the alarming scale of this violence, with health workers reporting a massive surge in cases in recent months.

Violence against women and girls in the DRC varies significantly between conflict and non-conflict regions. In the eastern DRC, rape and sexual violence are often used as weapons of war by armed groups, aiming to instill fear and disrupt communities. In contrast, in non-conflict areas, VAWG primarily manifests as domestic violence, early marriages, and economic coercion, driven by entrenched social norms and weak institutional protections. Human Rights Watch described this inhuman acts as “a war within a war” highlighting the extra ordinary brutality of these acts.

The intensification of conflict has led to a surge in sexual violence, particularly in displacement camps. In 2023, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) treated over 25,000 women for rape, marking a 152% increase compared to previous years. This alarming rise underscores the urgent need for improved living conditions and security in these camps. With limited ways of earning a living being in the camps and being unable to access their farms women and children are going to bed hungry.

In fact, a recent analysis by CARE DRC found that 60% of the people displaced in the DRC are women. As many flee their homes, some have died due to the lack of adequate rations in the camps as humanitarian organizations struggle to meet the rising influx of people against dwindling funding. Survivors of sexual violence often face significant obstacles in seeking justice, including stigma, lack of legal awareness, and a weak judicial infrastructure. The Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Index highlights the systemic barriers within the DRC’s justice system, emphasizing the need for solutions that prioritize women and empower them to seek justice.

The conflict has also severely affected children, with reports of abductions, forced recruitment, and sexual violence. Healthcare facilities in Goma have reported a significant increase in cases of sexual violence against children, reflecting the broader humanitarian crises.

with such cases, women and girls go through issues such as psychological trauma, bearing the pain of living through wars , enduring violence and loosing family members. Going through the pain of sexually transmitted infections and viruses such as HI, while girls live within the risk of early marriages leading to larger number Of school drop outs among girls .

Despite the profound challenges faced by women and girls in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), there is a growing movement toward resilience and empowerment. International organizations, such as UN Women, are actively supporting initiatives aimed at creating a future where women and girls can live free from violence and discrimination.

Local women’s rights advocates and organizations are implementing grassroots programs that focus on peace building, accountability for sexual and gender-based crimes, and providing better responses for victims and survivors.

Additionally, the DRC’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security aligns with the country’s National Gender Policy, emphasizing the advancement of women’s and girls’ human rights during and after conflict, and working against impunity for crimes perpetrated against them.These concerted efforts are fostering hope for a more equitable and peaceful future, where the resilience and strength of women and girls lead the way toward lasting change.