Lauren,+Ula

Url to Current Event: []

__Abstract__ This article talks about how rape is used as a weapon of war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The article talks about how young women and girls are raped from foreign militiamen and soldiers. Rape causes trauma for the young girls including contracting AIDS/HIV, and overall fear everyday from soldiers and being outside of their homes. Although the article does talk about how they have refugee camps and hospitals where the assaulted girls and women can go to for counseling and first aid. Ultimately as much as the young girls and their families try to fight for justice they don't get any and just have to live through it.

__Questions__ 1.) Why do you think the militiamen rape women? 2.) Could it be possible for women to build their confidence back? And if so, how? 3.) What can these women do to avoid being raped? 4.) Do you think militiamen raping women will ever stop? 5.) Rape is used as a weapon in war, why do you think that is so?

__Ula's Response__ I was aware that raping women were used as this "fifth weapon of war" but the reality of it is just horrifying. For a women to no longer be able to look someone in the eye or go out in the dark because of how tramatizing it was for them to be raped. I dont understand why fighting men do this. Are they truly that desparate to have sex? In my opinion, I think it is possible for the women to gain their confidence back, but only with the help from their families. The problem is that most of these women get shunned from their families, which is what makes it difficult for them to not feel ashamed of themselves. I think its hard for them to avoid being rape because these militiamen are raping them when their going home from getting water. This article is a reality check for most of us because we dont need to fear for our lives every second of the day, but theres people out there that do. So we should be very grateful that we live in the United States.

__Lauren's Response__ This article was quite disturbing. To hear about young girls being raped by militiamen is horrifying. In the United States we think the military and police force are the good guys, who protect us; and that we should be thankful for them. But in other countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, the people mostly women fear the military. In the Democratic Republic of Congo women are kidnapped and raped. Rape is used as a major weapon in this country. The rape these young girls endure have lifelong trauma for the girls, making them afraid to see militiamen, or go out at night; afraid that they will be kidnapped and raped again. This is just disturbing to hear because they should be protecting or fighting the enemy, not going around raping girls. They say rape is used as a weapon in war, probably because it has the same effects and trauma on someone who gets shot, or injured during physical fighting. The effects are the same, and to top it all off they give the militiamen more power and pleasure. Atleast they have some type of trauma center for women and girls to go to. I think they need more trauma centers like that, and better hospitals and first aid centers to treat the young women in case of diseases and injuries. Just like Ula said in her response we should be grateful and thankful we live in teh United States where that type of injustice doesn't normally happen.