War Against Women

The Use Of Rape As A Weapon In Congo's Civil War

(CBS)  This segment was originally broadcast on Jan. 13, 2008. It was updated on Aug. 14, 2008.

Right now there's a war taking place in the heart of Africa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and more people have died there than in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Darfur combined.

You probably haven't heard much about it, but as CNN's Anderson Cooper first reported last January, it's the deadliest conflict since World War II. Within the last ten years, more than five million people have died and the numbers keep rising.

As Cooper and a 60 Minutes team found when they went there a few months ago, the most frequent targets of this hidden war are women. It is, in fact, a war against women, and the weapon used to destroy them, their families and whole communities, is rape.

---

Dr. Denis Mukwege is the director of Panzi Hospital in eastern Congo. In this war against women, his hospital is the frontline. One of the latest victims he’s treating is Sifa M'Kitambala. She was raped just two days before the team arrived by soldiers who raided her village.

"They just cut her at many places," Dr. Mukwege explains.

Sifa was pregnant, but that didn't stop her rapists. Armed with a machete, they even cut at her genitals.

In the last ten years in Congo, hundreds of thousands of women have been raped, most of them gang raped. Panzi Hospital is full of them.

"All these women have been raped?" Cooper asked Dr. Mukwege, standing near a very large group of women waiting.

All the women, the doctor says, have been patients of his.

Within a week, Dr. Mukwege says this room will be filled with new faces, new victims.

"You know, they're in deep pain. But it's not just physical pain. It's psychological pain that you can see. Here at the hospital, we've seen women who've stopped living," Dr. Mukwege explains.

And not all the people the hospital treats are adults. "There are children. I think the youngest was three years old," Mukwege says. "And the oldest was 75."

To understand what is happening here, you have to go back more than a decade, when the genocide that claimed nearly a million lives in neighboring Rwanda spilled over into Congo. Since then, the Congolese army, foreign-backed rebels, and home-grown militias have been fighting each other over power and this land, which has some of the world's biggest deposits of gold, copper, diamonds, and tin. The United Nations was called in and today their mission is the largest peacekeeping operation in history.

Since 2005, some 17,000 UN troops and personnel have cobbled together a fragile peace. Last year they oversaw the first democratic election in this country in 40 years. But now all they have accomplished is at risk. Fighting has broken out once again in eastern Congo and the region threatens to slip into all-out war.

Each new battle is followed by pillaging and rape; entire communities are terrorized. Forced to flee their homes, people take whatever they can, and walk for miles in the desperate hope of finding food and shelter. Over the last year, more than 500,000 people have been uprooted. A fraction of them make it to cramped camps, where they depend on UN aid to survive.

One camp Cooper visited sprang up just two months before. It was already overcrowded, but more people kept arriving. They would go there seeking refuge, a safe haven, but the truth is in Congo, for women, there’s no such thing. Even in these supposedly protected camps, women are raped every single day.

"Has rape almost become the norm here?" Cooper asks Anneka Van Woudenberg, who is the senior Congo researcher at Human Rights Watch.

"I think because of the widespread nature of the war, because there has been so much violence, rape is now on a daily basis - rape is the norm," Van Woudenberg replies.

"Women get raped in wars all the time. How is it different here?" Cooper asks.

"I think what's different in Congo is the scale and the systematic nature of it, indeed, as well, the brutality. This is not rape because soldiers have got bored and have nothing to do. It is a way to ensure that communities accept the power and authority of that particular armed group. This is about showing terror. This is about using it as a weapon of war," she explains.

It's hard to imagine this war happening in the midst of such breathtaking natural beauty and abundance. But after decades of dictatorship and corruption, the country is broken. Most of the fighting and the raping takes place in remote areas difficult to get to.

Cooper and the team headed to an isolated village in the mountains in eastern Congo called Walungu. For years there's been armed groups fighting in this region; thousands of men emerge from the forest to terrorize villages and steal women. Congo’s government seems unable or unwilling to stop them.

[librablue-2009]

Does "60 Minutes" really think the report on sushi was more important than this one?

No matter how many times I have seen Anderson cover the subject of rape in the DRC I am always horrified. I think the worst part is the fact that their community, their families, and even their husbands shun these women. I can understand why husbands and even their families may feel responsible because they could not prevent the rape, but that is not a reason to abandon them.

I can''t imagine men feeling so powerless that they would justify raping anyone, but especially a child. If there weren''t so many of them I would think they were mentally disturbed, but it is obviously a case of just being evil and a desperate need to appear powerful. In my opinion, they are nothing more than cowardly bullies and should be dealt with severely.

Women like Lucienne are more powerful than any of the men that raped her. It is heartbreaking to see how compassionate she and many of the other women who have been raped remain in the face of such horror. They have nothing to be ashamed of.

I hope that Anderson will continue to update us on this subject.

[spilgree]

I watched this story and I wept. When it was over I wept and I wept more. Everytime I see or read anything about how one half of the population chooses to brutalize the other half, I weep and become sick. Women, we are not a minority, we are HALF OF THE POPULATION!
Among the fauna of the earth humans must be the only animals that use the reproductive/*** act to terrorize one another.
These poor women. Would arming them be an option? At least they could protect their children, and younger siblings, and stand half a chance of not being brutalized because they have a ***!
When they learn, and are able to earn a living, won''t they be brutalized more, will they be raped instead of receiving monetary payment for what they provide? (Among such fragile male egos it seems that nothing is scarier than a woman who can earn her own keep.)
When they and their children are abadoned by the male spouse, is the male spouse not being as much a part of the problem as the evil ones who committed the violent act? Has he no responsibility to care for his offspring?
Of all the animals on earth, humans, it seems are the sorriest example. We are willing to treat our own so horribly!
Thank you, Anderson Cooper.

[xounds]

Our president talks only now of going into Iran also, but ignores this. He is as evil as the crazy men who rape and kill in the Congo. Yes, to talk of war with Iran, to have invaded Iraq, while this obscene brutality occurs, is evil. He is like the cowards who ignored the Nazis. He is like the cowards in Japan who did these same things to the weak and vulnerable in Nanking.

[xounds]

In fact, I hope historians will record truthfully the patheticness of George Bush!

[stezzer]

This is a truly harrowing story. Well done CBS for highlighting this terrible brutality.

After Hitler the world vowed never to let such evil happen again. It''s happening in Congo. The world needs to do something about it.

[ontheleft]

''Women, we are not a minority''

Women are in fact a minority when it comes to holding positions of power.

[slamarche1]

I watched this segment in disbelief--it''s difficult to understand this type of inhumanity. It''s even more difficult to understand how our present government can ignore this and similar atrocities taking place on the African continent. Perhaps if the Congo supplied the US with some type of lucrative commodity, the Washington fat-cats would take notice. Shame one them.

[janiscable]

I am disgusted by the treatment of women in the Congo and request 60 minutes do a follow-up on how we can help these women. From which organizations to donate money to, what products to avoid purchase of, which companies are supporting Congo economically so we can avoid support of them, or anyway to support these women. Please don''t just put the dirty issue out there but help guide and empower us to help. These women deserve peace and justice!

[erwalters]

Thank you Anderson Cooper for showing the American public the atrocities that are being committed in the Congo. It is truly awesome that the young and old women can continue to move forward and express hope for themselves and their children. Their faith in God, that He will provide is inspiring. The call goes out to each of us to protect and care for the least of these; the poor, the sick, the widowed, the orphans. They are the meek and the powerless.

Why do we turn away?

[linfinster]

Our president talks only now of going into Iran also, but ignores this. He is as evil as the crazy men who rape and kill in the Congo. Yes, to talk of war with Iran, to have invaded Iraq, while this obscene brutality occurs, is evil. He is like the cowards who ignored the Nazis. He is like the cowards in Japan who did these same things to the weak and vulnerable in Nanking.

Posted by Xounds at 08:19 PM

I hope the United Nations is charged with crimes against humanity by ignoring the blatant inhumanity that''s occurring in the Congo and turning away. The world has the resources to eliminate this, but there''s money to be amassed, and power to gained .. how sick it all is. And it''s not JUST Bush!

[librablue-2009]

To janiscable: The world should take more of an interest in many of the atrocities that are happening in Africa. We know the Bush administration doesn%u2019t care, but we can always write our government officials to encourage them to intervene in these situations.

Anderson usually follows up on his reports and on his blog he usually tells viewers how to become involved in the issues he reports about, but I do wish more programs would follow his lead and provide viewers with more information.

[eve222]

There is probably no point in addressing your point, tuckerndfw, but it is an ugly and twisted thing to blame these and other women for the crimes against womenkind by men and modern women''s audacity to demand respect.

Women''s skills and abilities are just as valuable and worth while as men''s. Women and men are different, however. On average men are much physically stronger and naturally more violent than women, and women suffer as a consequence.

You''ll notice that posters are saying the US government (the men and women) should intervene by sending in the army (both men and women) - not for just men to save the day. Bush hasn''t, maybe Hillary would, who knows? It will be hard to gather the resources and moral authority after Bush''s blunders.

[barr9102]

I want to say, Anderson Cooper is a brave and honroable man, for making sure the world especially the Americans aware of what the hell is going on. What are we doing about this? Why isn''t the United Nations gathering to put this to a complete hault. It''s a shame that the media is more concerned for Britney Spear''s welfare, than for the welfare of the "people" Women, children, the innocent men, in other countries, not able to live their pursuit of happiness. Please have the media STOP covering the fortunate, and continue to cover the unfortunate of this world. Let''s go into these countries with the United Nations, and demand all of this stop. There has to be away to stop these men from committed these crimes against humankind.
Thank you, Anderson Cooper

[ringading3]

Africa has always been a country of savages, what''s new?

[docucast]

First, Anderson, thank you so much for highlighting this story on 60 minutes (and on CNN in 2007) - it is very important that Americans be made aware of what is happening in the DRC as this story has rarely been covered by our media until recently. I hope that you never lose your passion for making the stories of these women and their plight known.

ALSO - A similar story is taking place over at Congocast.org (an online documentary podcast). They are following the story of two American women who worked for one year with the women of the Panzi hospital and other women who had been discharged after having successful surgery from their rape.

Thanks again for helping to increase awareness of this atrocity - it''s the only way things will begin to change.

[docucast]

First, Anderson, thank you so much for highlighting this story on 60 minutes (and on CNN in 2007) - it is very important that Americans be made aware of what is happening in the DRC as this story has rarely been covered by our media until recently. I hope that you never lose your passion for making the stories of these women and their plight known.

ALSO - A similar story is taking place over at Congocast.org (an online documentary podcast). They are following the story of two American women who worked for one year with the women of the Panzi hospital and other women who had been discharged after having successful surgery from their rape.

Thanks again for helping to increase awareness of this atrocity - it''s the only way things will begin to change.

[fanofdaboys3]

Why don''''t they take up weapons and defend themselves?
According to feminists, women are just as capable as men.
So, what is their problem?
Maybe Hillary and her men hating lesbian supporters should board the next available flights and get their azzes over there and help their poor sisters.
SURELY, they do not expect MEN to do it??"

spoken like a true misogynist!!! dumbsh*ts like you make me embarassed to be a man! thankfully not all of us think like you! you must be part of the bush administration! i say send jenna bush there maybe she can help bring about change! she seems to be more in tune with whats going on in the world than dear old dad!!!! plus she seems to actually care!
now if these violent militants really want the villages to respect their authority i think castrating all the men living there would accomplish that more effectively.

[fanofdaboys3]

Why don''''t they take up weapons and defend themselves?
According to feminists, women are just as capable as men.
So, what is their problem?
Maybe Hillary and her men hating lesbian supporters should board the next available flights and get their azzes over there and help their poor sisters.
SURELY, they do not expect MEN to do it??"

spoken like a true misogynist!!! dumbsh*ts like you make me embarassed to be a man! thankfully not all of us think like you! you must be part of the bush administration! i say send jenna bush there maybe she can help bring about change! she seems to be more in tune with whats going on in the world than dear old dad!!!! plus she seems to actually care!
now if these violent militants really want the villages to respect their authority i think castrating all the men living there would accomplish that more effectively.

[kellie0909]

I was horrified just like man of the people who have commented here. I was so upset and ill feeling I went straight to my computer and signed up to do a monthly donation to http://www.womenforwomen.org/index.htm Women for Women, which Anderson''s report covered. Yes, it is an outrage what is happening but please I urge anyone reading this to donate to the link above.
Anderson, do you read these comments? Please let me/us know what we can do? what are the best action steps? Please, I implore you and your team to pass on this information. For me this story was too difficult to comment much on...I''d rather act. Please forward any relevant info and I can use it and pass it on to my friends and family.Thx!

[kellie0909]

I was horrified just like man of the people who have commented here. I was so upset and ill feeling I went straight to my computer and signed up to do a monthly donation to http://www.womenforwomen.org/index.htm Women for Women, which Anderson''s report covered. Yes, it is an outrage what is happening but please I urge anyone reading this to donate to the link above.
Anderson, do you read these comments? Please let me/us know what we can do? what are the best action steps? Please, I implore you and your team to pass on this information. For me this story was too difficult to comment much on...I''d rather act. Please forward any relevant info and I can use it and pass it on to my friends and family.Thx!

[sandbarr9]

What''s more important, fat *** american business men making profits from a senseless forced upon war or helping those who really need the help, take a look at yourselves have you no shame,the world looks upon you not as you do

[swttxsldy]

This is so sad! It''s VERY hard for to think this kind of S*** goes on. What the heck is wrong with these men or I should say animals. But that would give animals a bad name! I would love to see these women armed and being able to kill these so called men!!
I feel for these women! God bless them! Wake up Bush and do something!

[rudi1226-2009]

The story relates "men in the villages are unarmed and usually unable to fight back" (and therefore cannot protect the women). What else is new? CBS News has been promoting disarmement of US Citizens for decades. Genocide, mass rape, and other atrocities can only happen when the victims are incapable of defending themselves.

[rosehill6]

Comments like those of tuckerndfw and RingADing3 further solidify the ignorance of many of the American people on world issues. It''s not just a matter of taking up arms. These are real people who exist in a culture so vastly different from America that it''s difficult to fathom. Not to worry, though. I was also ignorant at one time. I might suggest reading the book "Left To Tell" by Immaculee Ilibagiza. She is a survivor of the Rwanda genocide. Perhaps it will open your eyes to other cultures and political corruption. If you can read this book without any change of character, I feel very sorry for you.

For those wishing to help these women, please visit the website "WomenForWomen.org"

[libsluvsuvs]

The United Nations was called in and today their mission is the largest peacekeeping operation in history.

*****************

it means congo will be rendered immaculately fu cked

[bsirius]

I haven''t seen anything like this story, and the actions taken by the men in it, except in American history and the actions of the US Army and Calvary against the native American women and children of this nation. Such savagery is so shocking. Kudos for noticing when it happens elsewhere in the world!

[shirk3-2009]

"except in American history and the actions of the US Army and Calvary against the native American women and children of this nation"

You seem like one of those blame America first types. You really need to get out there and read. The United States doesn''t have a perfect history, but neither does ANYWHERE else. For you to mention the CONGO and the U.S.A. in the same breath is highly insulting.

Hippy.

[robinjensen-2009]

I was deeply moved by this story. I would like to help. I would like to know what 60 min. is doing to help these people. Do you contribute to the people and organizations like Women to Women or the hospital that you hightlight in the report? Why not at the end of you story such as this one let people know that 60 min. is setting up a fund and people can donate to help the people in this story. It would be even better if 60 min. would offer to match some percentage of what people donate. I think it is a terrible waste to do these stories and then not inform of how we can help. I would imagine that a great amount of humanitarian work could be done collectivly by your viewers if there was something established. Even if a list was published on your websight of safe places to donate or organizations were listed that the money would safely get to these people would be great. I just don''t see the point of 60 min. profiting off of a story and then not using some of the profits to help the people in the story.

[hungry1968]

There are Americans (Blackwater), raping other Americans (fellow Blackwater employees) in Iraq. No one wants to prosecute, all the evidence is lost, and no one in government seems to care.

Why would anyone expect them to care about poor Africans? They can''t vote in America, therefore they''re non-existent......

[geerman1]

I found this story to be sad, but not shocking! This type of tyranny and savage human behavior is not isolated to the Congo, but happens in varying degrees around the world.

Whats the common link/thread - besides the inhuman genocidal issues - of every single one of these horrific acts?

The answer is simple! The general populace in everyone of these situations has been denied the right of self defense through the use of firearms!

In those cultures and societies where firearms are generally and freely available to the general population, this type of cruelty and evil has never been, nor never will be experienced.

While training these Congo women how to read and write, they should also teach them how to use firearms. They should be issued to every properly trained female, including their husbands and brothers.

History guarantees that these crimes will then, and only then, cease!!!

[geerman1]

I found this story to be sad, but not shocking! This type of tyranny and savage human behavior is not isolated to the Congo, but happens in varying degrees around the world.

Whats the common link/thread - besides the inhuman genocidal issues - of every single one of these horrific acts?

The answer is simple! The general populace in everyone of these situations has been denied the right of self defense through the use of firearms!

In those cultures and societies where firearms are generally and freely available to the general population, this type of cruelty and evil has never been, nor never will be experienced.

While training these Congo women how to read and write, they should also teach them how to use firearms. They should be issued to every properly trained female, including their husbands and brothers.

History guarantees that these crimes will then, and only then, cease!!!

[geerman1]

I found this story to be sad, but not shocking! This type of tyranny and savage human behavior is not isolated to the Congo, but happens in varying degrees around the world.

Whats the common link/thread - besides the inhuman genocidal issues - of every single one of these horrific acts?

The answer is simple! The general populace in everyone of these situations has been denied the right of self defense through the use of firearms!

In those cultures and societies where firearms are generally and freely available to the general population, this type of cruelty and evil has never been, nor never will be experienced.

While training these Congo women how to read and write, they should also teach them how to use firearms. They should be issued to every properly trained female, including their husbands and brothers.

History guarantees that these crimes will then, and only then, cease!!!

[geerman1]

I found this story to be sad, but not shocking! This type of tyranny and savage human behavior is not isolated to the Congo, but happens in varying degrees around the world.

Whats the common link/thread - besides the inhuman genocidal issues - of every single one of these horrific acts?

The answer is simple! The general populace in everyone of these situations has been denied the right of self defense through the use of firearms!

In those cultures and societies where firearms are generally and freely available to the general population, this type of cruelty and evil has never been, nor never will be experienced.

While training these Congo women how to read and write, they should also teach them how to use firearms. They should be issued to every properly trained female, including their husbands and brothers.

History guarantees that these crimes will then, and only then, cease!!!

[geerman1]

I found this story to be sad, but not shocking! This type of tyranny and savage human behavior is not isolated to the Congo, but happens in varying degrees around the world.

Whats the common link/thread - besides the inhuman genocidal issues - of every single one of these horrific acts?

The answer is simple! The general populace in everyone of these situations has been denied the right of self defense through the use of firearms!

In those cultures and societies where firearms are generally and freely available to the general population, this type of cruelty and evil has never been, nor never will be experienced.

While training these Congo women how to read and write, they should also teach them how to use firearms. They should be issued to every properly trained female, including their husbands and brothers.

History guarantees that these crimes will then, and only then, cease!!!

[geerman1]

I apologize for the dups ... monitor please remove the excess!

[grazinggoat]

Among the fauna of the earth humans must be the only animals that use the reproductive/*** act to terrorize one another.
Posted by spilgree at 08:12 PM : Jan 13, 2008

-No spilgree. Humans are not the only animals who terrorize by sexx. Africa is full of those animals who even kill previous males offsprings, namely lions. Not only they rape the female, but they kill the previous dominant lion male cubs, who would be chased away by the new dominant male. Many other species have similar behavior.

-This unfortunate tribal behavior is still practiced in Africa, with many similarities allover Earth.

[jwaxjwax]

"What the heck is wrong with these men or should I say animals."

Certainly these acts of rape are barbaric. But as this segment, history, and several illuminating social science experiments unfortunately illustrate, almost all human beings are capable of comitting great atrocity, not just a select few.

However, most individuals also possess great compassion, kindness and the ability to think on a higher moral level - beyond simply vengence and self-gain. It is this latter truth, in spite of the former, that allows me to retain hope in humanity.

Check out the website and see if you''d like to make a donation: WomenForWomen.org

[kkyauxxe]

As always Anderson Cooper''s reporting was outstanding tonight. I was so moved by this report that I have watched it three more times since it aired (the beauty of TiVo). I hope that I can do something to honor those women. This is the caliber of story that I expect from 60 Minutes.

[dianejester]

What a horrible situation in the Congo! Why didn''t you offer people a way to help at the end of the story? Halfway throught the story I was wondering how I could make a difference (as I''m sure many others were thinking, too).

[edward1975-2009]

These are surely troubling times. Lack of human compassion abundantly absent. When will it end?

[rowdytexan2]

I agree with arming every one of those women with a glock, plenty of ammo, and a machete. And if a male steps into camp...shoot the bustwards and chop them into small pieces.

I cannot even begin to count the crimes against women that I''ve read about here in the US just in the last few weeks...i.e. Stacy Peterson in Chicago, another woman in Chicago, the Halliburton employee where they''re covering up her rape, some guy in Tyler cooked his girlfriend, this young Marine and her baby, the list just keeps going on.

Only when fathers quit teaching their sons that they have the right to use whatever female is in sight is this going to stop. Casteration might help. Or arming every first grade female and teaching her how to defend herself might work.

[rivkap923]

How come you do not investigate and report the rape of women in the Congo by United Nations soldiers, which is much more disturbing, it means that these women cannot trust even the people that were sent to protect them!!!

[bsirius]

You seem like one of those blame America first types. You really need to get out there and read. The United States doesn''''t have a perfect history, but neither does ANYWHERE else. For you to mention the CONGO and the U.S.A. in the same breath is highly insulting.

Hippy.

Dear Hippy,

blame america first......we''re branding thought right out of the box now? you have no idea who you''re talking to if you are suggesting i need to read. apparently, you haven''t felt the need to take your own advice.
the united States doesn''''t have a perfect history, but neither does ANYWHERE else....hey no matter how you polish a *** it''s still a *** ain''t it? defending the criminal acts that built this country by saying no one else is perfect is pretty silly.

i''m proud you feel insulted that CONGO and USA were mentioned in same sentence as they are one and the same on this topic. next you''ll respond with some sort of moralistic ploy so let me head you off by stating i am feeling a little ***** right now so i will wander over to the local catholic church for a "hand job" and a history lesson. a tax exempt *** club by any other name is...

[colonieny]

ARE WE ALL THE SAME ?
COLLEGES TEACHERS ARE MORAL IDIOTS ?

To all multi cutural advocates: Some societies are much better and more advanced than others. The Western Societies, Europe, US, UK , Australia for example are far better societies vs. those of Africa, and most of the Arab states, where women have very little if any rights.

[nsggerber]

Please follow up on this excellent and heartbreaking report and tell us what might be done. Is the doctor working alone? doesn''t he need some help? what are the names of organizations which can assist? Ideally this could be stopped at the source, but it doesn''t seem likely.

[richard7772]

Thank you for your superb reporting. As my wife very wisely tells me, "There truly will be more women in heaven than men". I am a man and I don''t mind telling you that tonight, I cried for those innocent women. My first reaction was that I would like to put some of the rapists in a cell with Bubba and let him have his way with them for about a week or two.

But in reality, I now believe that evil has such a hold on this world that only God can save us from ourselves. Tonight, I prayed. I prayed that God will rid our world of war, greed, and violence and will provide some degree of comfort and dignity to those defiled women of the DRC.

This story was so upsetting! Please follow up and tell us what we can do to help these women. Perhaps if our own country were not so busy waging an unjust war, we might be able to help these innocent people.

[niqiu-2009]

so terrible!who would help them?or just themselves?

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by Richard7772 at 12:08 AM : Jan 14, 2008

Well said!

[l8c6]

"To understand what is happening here, you have to go back more than a decade, when the genocide that claimed nearly a million lives in neighboring Rwanda spilled over into Congo"

Thanks to Bill and Hillary for ignoring Rwanda, now millions more have died. Freaking IDIOTS.

Posted by george2221

Go stick it far where the sun don''t shine you neo con right wing global corporate libertarian steaming pile of sh*it.

Quit blaming democrats you jack azz.

[l8c6]

george2221 ----right wing republican neo con, they have caused severe damage to this country with their contract against americans.