Olena
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Question
Hi Nynke,
How can we be sure the stats and claims made in your article are true?
Thanks,
Olena
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5/3/2007, 7:56 am
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Neis
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Re: Question
I will try to shed some light on why I am certain that the claims made in the article represent the reality as it stands in Congo.
First of all, I have been working in and on DR Congo as a conflict researcher, and more recently as a journalist, since 2003. In numerous interviews, discussions and conversations I had with people in the country, the information given on the grim characteristics and consequences of sexual violence in Congo is uniform as well as complementary.
As for the woman that leads the article (Ntarwinja), I met her one day after her ordeal. I spoke with doctors, local NGOs, the administrators of the territory, etc. Their explanations of how this particular attack happened were the same. Given the state she was in I could not talk to her directly. Yet, the other women were interviewed personally.
It is difficult to believe that this is what is happening in Congo. Also, the gruesome details presented in the article may invoke a feeling that it borders sensationalist journalism. But perhaps I should say 'unfortunately', it is not.
What I am certain of is that, given the declarations of all my sources, all the literature available on the subject and all the organisations, medical institutions, etc, that are working on the rehabilitation (both socially and physically) of rape victims, it can simply be ruled out that the details of sexual violence in Congo are distorted, invented or exagerated for whatever political or financial reason.
With regards to putting a figure to the issue of rape: The number of 40.000-60.000 victims is the only figure available that is based on an extensive survey in the east of the country. All the other statistics that circulate have severe shortcomings in terms of methods used, etc. But as I mention in the article, this figure is vastly outdated. Additionally, given the inaccessibility of parts of the country, the shame that prevents many victims to visit medics or talk about what happened, and after another four years of sexual assaults, it can be stated beyond reasonable doubt that the figure is also outnumbered.
I have thought about leaving the number out for reasons of potential inaccuracy, outdatedness, etc. However, I decided not to because not mentioning the scale of the problem may invoke the feeling among readers that the women presented in the article are exceptions, whereas they are just the tip of the iceberg.
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5/3/2007, 2:59 pm
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Tiana24
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Re: Question
Dear Nynke,
I have never read anything more disturbing that this Congo article. It seems that men out there have no respect for their own women; they live like animals and act like animals.
I was horrified (there is no proper word in my vocabulary to describe my feelings) at the facts presented in the article and do hope that your voice will be heard by the appropriate people who are in the position to do something about this.
Regards,
Tiana
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5/14/2007, 11:39 am
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