CW: Rape, Sexual Assault, Violence
Since it became independent in 1960, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was left by the Belgians in a state of conflict and turmoil. Peace has rarely been observed, with the conflicts of neighbouring countries also affecting the DRC. The rape, pillage, and murder of people in a country, which has been plundered by foreign powers for its resources, has received almost no attention - why?
A documentary called The City of Joy (available on Netflix) focuses on the work of Christine Schuler Deschryver in her effort to aid and comfort women who have experienced the worst that humans can do. Rape - or as Christine describes it as “Sexual Terrorism” - is something which has been used for several decades against the people (men included) of the DRC; not necessarily for any sexual reasons but more for reasons of power and corruption. Women who have been raped face the possibility of being ostracised from their families all whilst having to deal with other unimaginable physical and psychological consequences.
The City of Joy is unique - nowhere in the world is there a place like it. Run entirely by volunteers with the help of writer Eve Ensler, the City of Joy nurses women back to health both physically and mentally while also igniting their confidence in classes which crush taboos and restore self-esteem. The City of Joy teaches women who have given birth after being raped to create a healthy and strong mindset for them and their child. This helps them to love the child after they have experienced one of the worst acts that can be done to any human.
But why is it that rape, such a widespread and damaging issue in the DRC, is not heard of more frequently? Colonisation is not talked about openly, but it is also no secret. The bias against African countries which stem from colonisation may be such that problems in the DRC may be more acceptable for a place that is often dismissed as a “third world” country. Rape of course happens across the world. However, with rape occurring in Central African countries more than anywhere in the world (according to the WomanStats Project 2018) one does wonder why it is always ignored, if not overlooked.
What the City of Joy has done is highlight the fact that mass rape is not an isolated, one-time incident in the DRC. While the Congolese cannot rely on the international community or the UN to help, they can rely on the efforts of people Nobel Peace prize winner Dennis Mukwege, Christine Schuler Deschryver and all the volunteers at the City of Joy. At the same time however, the problems of the DRC, particularly what the women and both unborn and born children face, is not something that they should have to deal with on their own. More importantly, it is something that, at the very least, should be weigh more heavily on the conscience of the international community.
By Khashayar Datoo.
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