Precious endured the kind of physical abuse and degradation that can only be described as torture, but she is a survivor.
Protection
Protection
Safe Places
Counselling
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is known to be a dangerous place for women — one of the most dangerous in the world.
The progress achieved in addressing the decades of widespread conflict-related violence has been jeopardised by an increase of lawlessness and indiscriminate attacks. Renewed conflict has forced millions of people to flee their homes and there is now a staggering 4.5 million Congolese displaced across the country and half a million refugees.
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is a tragic feature of conflict in the region, leaving displaced women and girls vulnerable. Every week, on average, 111 cases of rape are reported across the country —and this is just a fraction of the true number.
Even worse, survivors struggle to access support as shame and stigma force them to remain silent, bruised and isolated.
Together we can stop violence against women
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Forced into sexual slavery, Josephine endured weeks of almost relentless physical abuse.
"They dragged me away to the bush. There were three men there and they all slept with me. Then they took me to a place where they were keeping other women."
Despite her pain, she told no-one about her ordeal after her release — not even her husband.
Having nowhere else to turn, she made her way to UNHCR and was immediately referred for treatment. Josephine's doctor describes her as "one of the luckier ones”, as many others will not get this support.
Josephine holds her hand in front of her face in the small room where she is taking shelter with a local host family in Kanteba village, DRC. ©UNHCR/B.Sokol
UNHCR is leading the protection response for vulnerable people in the DRC and helping protect survivors of sexual violence by:
Don't let the women and girls of the DRC be forgotten.
Precious endured the kind of physical abuse and degradation that can only be described as torture, but she is a survivor.
Protection
This following passage was written by Australia for UNHCR's National Director Naomi Steer after she met Precious in Kyaka II refugee settlement in early 2019. Please be aware that it contains strong and graphic content.
I met Precious* in her small shelter in Kyaka 2 camp in an area set aside by UNHCR for POC’s – Persons of Concerns. She was quiet and composed – In the dimness it took me a while to notice the long and deep scars on her arms and legs.
Precious told me she was 34 years old- her age later confirmed in the numerous hospital records she later showed me. The only girl in a large family of brothers Precious helped her mother cook, clean and gather fire wood. Though life was hard she remembers her parents as loving and her early years as happy. However when violence erupted in her home district in the early 90’s all that changed. Her school closed because students were afraid of being kidnapped and forced into service into one of the many rebel groups operating in the areas. Women and girls were afraid of going into the forest because of fear of being raped. Growing up quickly in such an environment Precious married early to a young man working in the area and soon was pregnant with her first child.
As the conflict continued Precious and her husband now with a young child decided to move closer to her husband’s family in Goma, the main city in Eastern Congo. Precious became pregnant again giving birth to her second son who she named Christian. For a while life was as close to normal as it could be in a war zone. But all that was to change. First Precious got the terrible news that her parents had been killed caught in fighting as they tried to flee their hugandaome village. Then Precious' first born child became sick with fever followed shortly after her husband. Both died within days of each other. Grief stricken she remembers it was only her Precious for her remaining child that kept her going. However women in the DRC have few property legal rights and once her husband died everything they had worked for and owned together became the property of her husband’s family. It wasn’t long before she was told to leave and was out on the street with her young child.
With none of her family in Goma and her parents dead, Precious set out with her remaining child Christian to try and reach her brother back in Rutshuru. It was at this time that she received a call on her mobile that he had been shot and killed. She decided to continue on but shortly after her small bus was ambushed by a rebel group. Precious remembers how the men were separated from the women and children. They were first beaten then dragged off into the forest. She didn’t see them again. Meanwhile Precious and a small group of women and children were also beaten and dragged off into the bush. Soon the torture and rapes began. Precious' brown eyes fill with tears as she recounts the atrocities and humiliations she and the other women were subjected to – all in front of their children. I asked her was it one man or more. She looks down and says quietly “many”. She tells me after several days of torture, rape and violation she didn’t want to live but pleaded for her young son’s life.” I begged them to spare Christian and pleaded that they could do anything to me if they let my son live.” At first she thought the rebels had relented as they untied her son and gave him some food.” But then the next day they dragged him in front of her and killed him with a panga- a large machete used for cutting down bushes. Then they then turned on her with the panga -slicing her arms, side and back and then stuffing her mouth and vagina with dirt before leaving her for dead.
She woke up days later in a hospital in Goma. I ask her how she got there and she shakes her head and says she has no idea. She remembers nothing from the time she was slashed with the panga. UNHCR tells me she was most probably unconscious, it was likely some good Samaritans- local villagers who waited till the militia left and then took her to Goma.
Precious went into her small bedroom and brought out a folder of her medical records - the description of her injuries makes sober reading, confirming everything she has described to me and more- torture, mutilation, sexual assault, rape, multiple internal injuries, incontinence, infections, STI and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Precious stayed in the hospital for many months and while slowly her physical wounds began to heal she remained devastated at the loss of her remaining son. Twice she attempted suicide so hospital insisted she be released into her family’s care. The only family were her in-laws who took her in but forced her sleep outside the house on a tattered mat. When Precious could bear this treatment no longer, she decided she had to somehow find a better place. When her sister in law heard Precious was leaving she burnt the mat in front of her- a final act of rejection reinforcing the shame and stigma around being a rape victim.
Precious says at this point she didn’t care where she went just as a long as it was away from the DRC. She remembers just walking aimlessly along the road leading away from the city before being picked up by a truck who helped her reach safety where she was able to register as a refugee with local authorities.
Precious was immediately identified by authorities as one of the most vulnerable persons of concern and was referred to UNHCR. Today she is rebuilding her life with the support of UNHCR, receiving regular medical treatment and counselling. With the help of our women’s support group, she is also making new friendships and taking steps towards overcoming the cruel stigma attached to her abuse.
But resources are scarce and for someone who has suffered so much and continues to need intense medical and psychosocial support, the needs are great. And Precious is just one of the many women in UNHCR’s care who needs this support.
I asked Precious what she hopes for the future. She pauses and takes a while to answer and then says; “For myself I want better medical treatment so I can recover”. She still hopes for happiness and a family. “
She says that “I hope by sharing my story that more women and girls who have suffered rape can get more help and no longer feel ashamed that these things have been done to them”.
It saddens me to think of the many women out there, like Precious, who are facing this kind of trauma alone. Today, you can help ensure women and girls of the DRC are not left alone or forgotten. DONATE NOW >
*Name changed to maintain confidentiality
Photo: ©UNHCR/B.Sokol
See inside a training session for Listening House volunteers who help women recover and rebuild
Safe Places
UNHCR trains refugee women to be volunteer counsellors with ‘big ears, big hearts and small mouths’.
Watch the video above to see a training session in action and find out exactly what it takes to become a Listening House volunteer.
Right now, UNHCR programmes in the DRC are critically underfunded. Today, a gift from you can help ensure survivors have somebody to turn to and are supported to rebuild their lives.
Source: Australia for UNHCR's Statement of Comprehensive income 2018
Why the first 72 hours are crucial for the protection, care and recovery for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
Protection
UNHCR’s Nathalie Dzaringa, who coordinates SGBV services in the volatile north of the country describes, step-by-step, how teams in the DRC deliver care from the moment a case of SGBV is identified or reported:
“Our first concern is for the woman’s immediate safety. She may be injured or still in danger of abuse. She will often have feelings of anger, shame and guilt, of having betrayed her faith, and we have to work hard to gain her trust. Our staff and community volunteers are trained to listen sensitively, to determine what services she needs and let her know what help is available. Her consent is sought at every stage, before we make referrals or pass on her dossier, but we do insist on the importance of her receiving medical and psychosocial help within the first 72 hours.”
Please send a gift today to help strengthen and expand UNHCR’s sexual violence response >
Photo: ©Brian Sokol/UNHCR
Nathalie was going about her daily chores when her whole life changed
Counselling
Nathalie was going about her daily chores when a group of armed men broke down her front door. They threatened to kill her children if she didn’t obey them, before physically and sexually assaulting her.
Beaten, bruised and still in shock, she grabbed the children and fled to a refugee camp ran by UNHCR.
“I asked for help from UNHCR staff,” Nathalie said. “It was going very badly for me – I was depressed and had nightmares every night. I got help at the medical centre. They tested me for infection, and gave me a PEP kit to prevent HIV.”
Today, Nathalie counsels other survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) at the Listening House’ in Mole Camp, helping them on the long road to recovery.
Please help UNHCR provide these important services by making a donation now >
Photo: ©UNHCR/Francesca Salvi
Safe Places
Counselling
UNHCR operates safe spaces for the most vulnerable refugees for child and family support, providing child services, play areas and counselling. Children travelling alone are given special support and safe accommodation while UNHCR staff search for their relatives or carers. For displaced girls, safe spaces in refugee camps are essential for preventing abuse and exploitation. LGBTI refugees are also offered safe spaces to protect them from harm and discrimination.
Displacement due to horrific violence, armed conflict, persecution, or disaster puts significant psychological and social stress on children, individuals, families and communities. UNHCR provides counselling to refugee populations to address trauma arising from displacement. These services are particularly vital for survivors of torture and of sexual and gender-based violence.
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