Sexual Violence Against Women Grows

In Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and most recently Guinea, the sexual assault and rape of women is being used as a means of exerting political and psychological control. In September, the militia forces of Guinea’s Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, who seized power in a coup last December, raped women who attended a protest against him at a local stadium. This was done out in the open, in broad daylight. The motivation of such brutality is to humiliate and intimidate the women, men, and their communities—and the effects reverberate. Throughout the region, sexual violence against women continues to be used as a weapon of war and show of power. Despite recent efforts by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and others to highlight the issue, more needs to be done to stop it.

An important first step that the United States can take is the International Violence Against Women Act, which was introduced in 2007 by then-Senator Joe Biden but never came to a vote. Bill Delahunt (D-Mass) and other lawmakers plan to reintroduce the legislation soon. The bill commits the U.S. government to addressing and ending violence against women and girls globally by funding a five-year program in developing countries where the situation is most dire. Efforts would include providing health care and support for assault victims and training local police to prevent violence.

EngenderHealth strongly advocates for the passing of the International Violence Against Women Act, which would mark a key step forward in stopping the brutality perpetrated against women and girls around the world.

Read a commentary by EngenderHealth’s Clinical Director of Fistula Care, Dr. Joseph Ruminjo, on sexual violence in the Congo and the damaging effects on women and girls there.