Repercussions of Rape in the Context of War

Rape and other forms of sexual violence have evolved into primary weapons of choice for tribal factions warring across the eastern areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo. But lost amid the cloud of war are the untold numbers of forgotten women too traumatized to come forward after their rapes, and the devastating social impact that these rapes inflict on Congolese culture itself. In Repercussions of Rape in the Context of War, Dr. Nathalie Minami elucidates the horrific plight of Congolese women through eighteen in-depth interviews with rape victims, followed by an analysis of the desperate culture that perpetuates their emotional and spiritual scars long after the scars to their bodies have faded. Her research attempts to provide some understanding of the impact of rape on Congolese culture and extend that cultural impact outside the context of Africa and the DRC, with the hope of spurring more immediate action by government and non-government aid organizations within the DRC. Central to Dr. Minami's purpose is the desperately needed aid and support of countless women trapped in a culture of rape, whose anguished screams have gone mostly unheard by both the Congolese and international communities.