Clinton Visits Eastern Congo, Pledges $17 Million To Combat Rape

[daniel green]

Hillary Clinton touched down in Goma in the Congo today--one of the epicenters of sexual violence--to pledge $17 million in aid to programs designed to bring an end to violence. But is it remotely enough? The BBC reports that more than 3,500 women, according to UN estimates, have been raped so far this year. That's in addition to a recent uptick in sexual assaults committed against men reported by Jeffrey Gettleman in the New York Times, for which no reliable estimates are available. The UN estimates that hundreds of thousands women have been raped by any of the various military, militia and paramilitary forces that have held the country hostage to violence for more than a decade. In 2008 alone, the UN registered 15,996 cases of sexual assault; the military, which tries its soldiers for any crimes committed in the military, provided 27 convictions. Human Rights Watch estimates that two-thirds of rape victims are underage. Following a meeting yesterday with Congolese President Joseph Kabila, Clinton stated that they agreed there should be no impunity for perpetrators of sexual violence.

http://airamerica.com/blog/2009/aug/11/clinton-visits-eastern-congo-pledges-17-million-combat-rape

[February]

Applause for Secretary Clinton. She is in her niche.
The facts you referred to are horrific.
She will be the Secretary of State to make a difference.

[IaNsSyAlNuE]

I can only hope it puts a dent into this horrible nightmare these women and children expierence.

[theal3]

Applause for Secretary Clinton. She is in her niche.
The facts you referred to are horrific.
She will be the Secretary of State to make a difference.

I totally agree. And women are vulnerable in this country, too, and children. Crime statistics, not good. She'll go down as one of the best Sec. of States. IMHO.

[daniel green]

It's a start. Certainly not enough but it's a start.