JWW Board Member Vaughan Meyer is traveling with four other JWW delegates in Congo’s eastern provinces. They will work with survivors of the country’s decades-long conflict, which has claimed nearly six millions lives. And, they will meet with JWW’s partners on the ground, with whom JWW works to create innovative programs and projects that change lives and transform communities.
“>Tumaini Project in collaboration with him.
Dr. Mukwege told us that yesterday he treated a 7-year-old girl who was raped nearby and that in the past year at Panzi they had started seeing rape victims under the age of 5. They have had more than 25 cases just this year so far. The idea is almost too difficult to digest. What could be the cause? While the demobilization of the armed militias has led to decreased violence across the country, it has also led to this horrific child rape crisis. Raping children is a way of destroying the community because not being able to protect the children is seen as a failure of the entire community – and leads to the disintegration of society. It sounds like a description of hell. Thankfully, these rape victims come here, to Dr. Mukwege, for treatment, for support, for compassion and tenderness and care. They have a chance.
The conflict is not just born on the backs of women. There is virtually no re-integration process at all in place for the demobilized militias, with tragic results. Young men who were inducted into militias, often at a young age, have spent years killing and raping; they re-enter society with no mental health support, sensitivity training, or vocational tools. This leads to alcohol abuse, drug abuse, family violence and more horrific rape. It used to be that 99% of the rapes Dr. Mukwege treated were committed by active militia. He estimates that currently it is 60% militia and 40% civilians, largely made up of former militia members. There is work to be done with the men.
Dr. Mukwege knows this. He is planning a conference in August inviting 50 community leaders from 3 provinces to discuss strategies to educate more men to take responsibility and to push their government to act. You and I can help too. We can ask our representatives to put pressure on this government to act as well.
Before I left on this trip, Rabbi Sharon Brous taught me the concept of ubuntu, the African recognition of human interdependence. It is the essence of being human. It speaks of the fact that my humanity is caught up and inextricably bound up in yours. People who are ubuntu are diminished when others are oppressed, diminished when others are treated as if they were less than who they are. The quality of ubuntu gives people resilience, enabling them to survive and emerge still human despite all efforts to dehumanize them. Ubuntu is why we are here.
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