The Cost of War for Women and Girls in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Decades-Long Conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been plagued by a long-standing conflict that has had devastating effects on the lives of millions of people. Since 1996, nearly six million individuals have lost their lives, and the country currently has the largest population of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Africa, with 7.1 million people forced to leave their homes or communities. The province of North Kivu, particularly around the capital city of Goma, is heavily impacted, with almost one million IDPs living in makeshift camps that lack access to essential services such as water, shelter, sanitation, and food.

Sexual Violence – A Weapon of War

One of the most disturbing aspects of this conflict is the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. In North Kivu, reports of gender-based violence (GBV) have risen by 91 percent from 2021 to 2022. Between January and March 2024, over 12,600 cases of sexual violence were recorded, although these numbers only scratch the surface. Many survivors are unable to access life-saving GBV services, and fear of stigmatization or retaliation prevents many from reporting the abuse they have endured. Human rights groups and humanitarian relief organizations have reported that tens of thousands of women and girls have fallen victim to systemic sexual violence, including rape, sexual slavery, and forced prostitution.

• Armed combatants and militias are primarily responsible for these acts, with the majority of victims being women and girls, some as young as three years old and others as old as 80.
• These acts have severe and lasting health consequences for the victims, including physical injuries, psychological trauma, the risk of sexually transmitted infections, and unintended pregnancies.
• In 2024, there has been an alarming increase in violence against women and girls in North Kivu. Medecins Sans Frontières (MSF) treated 25,166 victims and survivors of sexual violence across the country in 2023, and between January and May 2024, they had already treated 17,363 victims and survivors in North Kivu alone, accounting for 69 percent of the total number of victims treated in 2023.

Urgent International Response Needed to Protect Women & Children

The situation in North Kivu highlights the devastating impact of armed conflicts, with women and children bearing the brunt of the violence. However, the international response has not adequately addressed the urgent needs of the affected population. Despite having the highest number of people in need of humanitarian aid in the world, with 25.4 million affected individuals, the DRC remains one of the most underfunded crises. The United Nations’ $2.6 billion Humanitarian Response Plan for 2024, aimed at assisting 8.7 million people, is only 16% funded. The World Food Programme has reported the need for $546 million to sustain its emergency response in the region over the next six months, or else they will have to significantly reduce assistance. The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, has received only 41% of the required $298.9 million for the emergency situation in the DRC. Without sustained humanitarian support, increased funding for the Humanitarian Response Plan, and strengthened protection measures for civilian populations, displaced women will continue to endure violence on a daily basis.

A Resource Curse

The conflict in the DRC is largely driven by the control of the country’s valuable raw materials, such as tin, tungsten, coltan, and gold, collectively known as 3T or 3TG. The demand for these minerals, fueled by the production of electronic devices like cell phones, laptops, and electric cars, has intensified competition and conflict in the DRC. Denis Mukwege, a Congolese doctor and Nobel Prize winner, has condemned the global demand for these minerals, as it contributes to the perpetuation of conflict and rape in his country. The Congolese government has accused multinational corporations, including Apple, of using illegally exploited minerals from conflict-torn areas. Rwanda and Uganda, neighboring countries, have been extensively involved in the illegal exploitation of DRC’s mineral resources and the violence that has plagued the eastern region for decades.

• The M23 rebel group, backed by Rwanda, has intensified its activities in recent years, resulting in widespread violence and mass displacement of people.
• The United Nations has provided evidence of Rwanda’s direct involvement in the conflict, including the provision of weapons and ammunition to the M23 rebels. Uganda has also been implicated for allowing the M23 unhindered access to its territory during operations.
• Despite this evidence, Western countries, particularly the United States, have continued to provide support to Rwanda and Uganda, including military aid, in violation of legal restrictions.

Armed groups will continue to commit violent crimes against humanity until the international community takes action to end impunity, halt military support for armed groups, and ensure the responsible exploitation of the DRC’s mineral wealth. Otherwise, women and children will continue to pay the price for the country’s resource curse.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
• SDG 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
• SDG 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of reported cases of gender-based violence (GBV)
• Number of survivors of sexual violence receiving treatment
• Percentage of funding received for humanitarian response plans
• Number of victims and survivors of sexual violence

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: commondreams.org