Since 1997 the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been a battleground as different groups struggle for control.  It is the deadliest conflict since World War II, having claimed over 5.4 million lives.

South Kivu is the epicenter of the conflict and abuse

A favorite weapon is sexual abuse.  At least 200,000 women have been raped and tortured by groups of men, sometimes in view of their families.  Some estimates claim that up to 50% of women in the region have been raped since the conflict began.  The real numbers are unknown since stigma and fear of persecution compel many victims into silence.  Prosecution of rapists has been almost non-existent.

There are as many as 20 different armed groups active in the region, and each one employs sexual abuse as a weapon to intimidate and repress any village it wants to control.

Rape is cheaper than bullets, and has a more lasting effect

Once a woman or girl has been raped, she faces a host of challenges just to survive.  The rapists frequently torture their victims.  However, medical assistance is hard to reach in such a vast, poor, and unstable region.  A rape victim is often rejected by her husband and family.  Because of the stigma associated with rape, many women try to avoid reporting it.  (One report suggested that all the reported cases represent only one tenth of all attacks.)

On top of all this, 20% of the victims acquire HIV as a result of the ordeal.  Others become pregnant.

In the midst of this chaos, anger, and pain, Focus Congo is bringing help and hope to women and their communities through God’s love, education, and counseling.