Women of the democratic republic of congo

1. Introduction Presentation
420WS: Global Feminism
By Danielle J.

2. 26 years old
Currently in the RN to BSN program at MSUM
Recently married in the Dominican Republic –
March 2014
Currently employed as an RN at clinic in my
hometown
Enjoy the outdoors, reading, cooking, and
exercising

4. 3rd largest country in Africa
Population: 60,764,000
Life expectancy: 48
Known as the “rape capital of the world”
(Women Under Siege, 2014)
(National Geographic, 2014)

5. 1960 – DRC became independent
Africa’s World War 1997-2002
Claimed 3 million lives
Peace agreement was signed 2002
(National Geographic, 2014)

6. Women care for 5 children on average
Average daily income is $0.53
65% are illiterate
Many are widowed and forced into begging or
prostitution
Often denied access to healthcare, property,
education, and information needed to better
their lives
Victims of rape are often forced to leave homes
and villages
(Women for Women International, 2014)

7. 4 women are raped every 5 minutes in the DRC
Brutalities include rape, gang rape, genital
mutilation, sexual slavery, and insertion of
objects into cavities
Violence occurs in homes, villages, and in the
fields
Sexual violence forces women and children into
sex work, forced pregnancy, and spread of
sexually transmitted infections
(Women Under Siege, 2014)
(Stop Rape in Conflict, n.d.)
(UNDP, 2014)

8. The incidence of rape is highest in areas
where military operations take place
Severe gender imbalances has allowed rape to
be acceptable and unpunishable in society
(Stop Rape in Conflict, n.d.)

9. Provides legal and medical assistance to victims
of sexual violence
Helped establish the Police Special Protection of
Children and Women Unit
Goal is to establish trust in justice system,
provide better access to justice, safety, and
security for victims of sexual violence and raise
awareness about rights
(UNDP, 2014)

10. National Geographic. (2014). Democratic republic of the
congo facts. [Informational website]. Retrieved from
http://www.travel.nationalgeographic.com
Stop Rape in Conflict. (n.d.). Stop rape in democratic
republic of congo. [Organizational website]. Retrieved
from http://www.stoprapeinconflict.org
United Nations Development Programme. (2014). Fighting
sexual violence in the democratic republic of congo.
[Organizational website]. Retrieved from
http://www.undp.org
Women for Women International. (2014). Democratic
republic of the congo. [Organizational website]. Retrieved
from http://www.womenforwomen.org
Women Under Siege. (2014). Democratic republic of
congo. [Organizational website]. Retrieved from
http://www.womenundersiegeproject.org