UN says sexual violence on the rise in DRC
- 11 years ago
The UN and human rights groups are warning of a rise in sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Earlier this month, a senior UN official said the organisation's peacekeeping mission in the country had threatened to stop supporting two Congolese army battalions unless soldiers accused of raping scores of women in an eastern town were prosecuted.
In December, UN investigators said they had proof of at least 126 rapes carried out by soldiers fleeing a rebel offensive.
Armed groups in eastern DR Congo often use rape as a weapon of war.
The UN said the rapes occurred in the town of Minova, to the south of the city of Goma which was captured by M23 rebels in November.
Al Jazeera's Nazanine Moshiri reports from eastern Congo, one of the most dangerous places in the world for women.
Earlier this month, a senior UN official said the organisation's peacekeeping mission in the country had threatened to stop supporting two Congolese army battalions unless soldiers accused of raping scores of women in an eastern town were prosecuted.
In December, UN investigators said they had proof of at least 126 rapes carried out by soldiers fleeing a rebel offensive.
Armed groups in eastern DR Congo often use rape as a weapon of war.
The UN said the rapes occurred in the town of Minova, to the south of the city of Goma which was captured by M23 rebels in November.
Al Jazeera's Nazanine Moshiri reports from eastern Congo, one of the most dangerous places in the world for women.