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The United Nations' role in protecting women from sexual violence in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

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Rechten:Alle rechten voorbehouden

The United Nations' role in protecting women from sexual violence in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Open access

Rechten:Alle rechten voorbehouden

Samenvatting

It has been almost fifteen years since the brutal conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) started, and has been causing tremendous suffering for the Congolese civilians ever since;
leaving millions of people dead, and causing another hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes, while breaches of humanitarian and human rights still prevail as of today. Women
have been particularly targeted during this war, despite the signing of several peace agreements.
Various reports has been mentioning an estimated number of 200,000 raped women; however, a recent study by the American Journal of Public Health (May 2011) mentioned that more than 400,000 women were raped each year since the beginning of the conflict (As cited in Reuters, May 2011, 400,000-plus women raped in Congo yearly: study).
On the 28th of May 2010, the United Nations Security Council, under resolution 1925, adopted a new mandate for its Mission in the DRC to support the government in protecting civilians from violations of international humanitarian law and human rights abuses, including all forms of sexual and gender-based violence, and emphasizing that protection of civilians must be given priority over other tasks entrusted to the Mission (United Nations Security Council, 2010).
Despite this, women are, most of the time, being raped in villages, which are often just a few miles away from the UN peacekeeping mission.
A survey conducted in 2009 by the International Committee of the Red Cross and Ipsos shows that three quarters (76%) of the people interviewed have been affected in some way - either personally or due to the wider consequences of armed conflict (International Committee of the Red Cross, 2009).
Surveys and polls show that the Congolese public feel that nothing is done for them, and that the UN has made a lot of empty promises. For instance, resolution 1888 states that the UN Secretary-General should rapidly "deploy a team of experts to situations of particular concern with respect to sexual violence in armed conflict… with the consent of the host government, to assist national authorities to strengthen the rule of law". This team of experts has not yet been deployed and the victims are once again left to deal on their own. How long should this situation of insecurity go on?
Therefore, this final paper will cover the UN's role in protecting women from sexual violence in Congo so far.

Toon meer
OrganisatieDe Haagse Hogeschool
OpleidingESC Europese Studies / European Studies
AfdelingAcademie voor European Studies & Communication
Jaar2011
TypeBachelor
TaalEngels

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