Displaced women in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo face growing risks of sexual violence when seeking work to feed their families, according to interviews conducted at refugee camps in the conflict-affected region. The assaults come as women search for odd jobs in neighborhoods and towns to support themselves in displacement camps.
A mother of two at the Don Bosco refugee camp in Ngangi said displaced residents struggle to survive and must venture into towns daily searching for work. "Some men take advantage of this to abuse us," she said. "As we are constantly looking for the means to feed our families and meet our basic needs, we find it difficult to report these incidents."
Sexual violence in conflict-affected eastern DRC stems not only from armed combatants but also from civilians who exploit vulnerable women seeking domestic work, according to accounts from displaced persons. Most victims do not report their abuse out of fear of reprisal from perpetrators.
Semu Sikulimwenge, a clinical psychologist at HEAL Africa Hospital in Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province, said developing income-generating activities is essential for fostering victims' economic independence and affected communities' resilience. Attorney Patrick Musambali noted that rape constitutes a gross violation of Article 170 of the Congolese Penal Code, which stipulates 5 to 20 years of penal servitude for the crime.
Leaders at displaced persons camps said awareness-raising campaigns have encouraged some victims to seek justice. Eugénie Wimana, a leader at the Don Bosco camp, said the organization raises collective awareness among women and girls to combat sexual violence. With support from humanitarian organizations, some displaced persons have begun small-scale income-generating activities, officials said. Psychosocial support is vital for creating a safe space where victims can express their feelings, Wimana added.
