Africa Great Lakes Democracy Watch



Welcome to
Africa Great Lakes Democracy Watch Blog. Our objective is to promote the institutions of democracy,social justice,Human Rights,Peace, Freedom of Expression, and Respect to humanity in Rwanda,Uganda,DR Congo, Burundi,Sudan, Tanzania, Kenya,Ethiopia, and Somalia. We strongly believe that Africa will develop if only our presidents stop being rulers of men and become leaders of citizens. We support Breaking the Silence Campaign for DR Congo since we believe the democracy in Rwanda means peace in DRC. Follow this link to learn more about the origin of the war in both Rwanda and DR Congo:http://www.rwandadocumentsproject.net/gsdl/cgi-bin/library


Thursday, August 26, 2010

US vows help in fight against Congo sexual violence

The United States will help any effort to bring to justice rebels accused in the "horrific" mass rape of women and children in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday.
U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton addresses the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, at United Nations Headquarters, in New York, May 3, 2010. The objective of the treaty, which took effect in 1970, is to halt the spread of nuclear weapons-making capability, guarantee the right of all members to develop nuclear energy for peaceful ends and -- for the original five nuclear weapons powers -- to phase out their arsenals. REUTERS/Chip East (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS)
U.S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has promised U.S assistance in the fight against sexual violence in the Congo
Rebels from the Mai Mai militia and Rwandan Hutu FDLR, who occupied the town of Luvungi in North Kivu province from July 30 to August 3, raped and assaulted at least 154 civilians, according to U.N. figures.
"This horrific attack is yet another example of how sexual violence undermines efforts to achieve and maintain stability in areas torn by conflict but striving for peace," Clinton said in a statement.
"The United States will do everything we can to work with the UN and the DRC government to hold the perpetrators of these acts accountable, and to create a safe environment for women, girls, and all civilians living in the eastern Congo," Clinton vowed.
The United Nations adopted a resolution last year recognizing the importance of preventing and responding to sexual violence as a tactic of war against civilians.
Clinton said it was now time for member nations to go beyond that with specific steps to protect civilians against sexual violence and prosecute those who commit such atrocities.
The United Nations has a peacekeeping force of nearly 20,000 members in Congo. A U.N. spokesman said the peacekeeping force only heard about the incident in the eastern province more than a week after it happened.
The world body said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was outraged by the attack and dispatched a top official to Congo on Tuesday. The United Nations did not spell out the precise mandate of the mission.
Reuters