Lwaboshi Bahati (center), with some of his children, banished his wife from their home after she was raped by militiamen in Congo’s running ethnic conflict. But, through a reeducation program, he realized this made his family and society suffer, so he welcomed her back. Mary Knox Merrill / StaffCongo: Confronting Rape As A Weapon Of War -- Christian Science Monitor
In the rape capital of the world, some are seeking to curb sexual violence by focusing on men's role in preventing it.
Kanyola, Democratic Republic of Congo - First his wife, then his daughter. Five years ago, Hutu militiamen tied up Lwaboshi Bahati and forced him and his children to watch as they raped those nearest to his heart. Then they took everything he owned.
"I was so angry. Up until now, I can't forget. I can't express how bad I feel," says Mr. Bahati, an unemployed former small-business owner.
But at his wife's time of greatest need, he kicked her out of the house. She was defiled; damaged goods. Besides, she might give him the AIDS virus that she must have caught from the militiamen. At least that's how he saw things back then.
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My Comment: Violence against women is as old as time. But war zones bring out the worse in this type of behavior, and the Congo .... being at constant war for a decade .... exhibits all of these terrible traits.
I have always been an advocate for labeling rape as a war crime, with commanders and their political leadership being culpable for this type of behavior. Unfortunately .... there is zero movement among any UN or international organization to take up this cause.