...Rape and gender violence in The Democratic Republic of Congo has been marked by extreme brutality including rape, gang rape, genital mutilation, sexual slavery, and insertion of objects into cavities. “You know, [rape] is also because of the suffering from being hungry, not having anything, living like animals [tozovivre lokola banyama] … Even the dogs here eat better than us! We were hungry yesterday, today hungry and tomorrow hungry [nzala lobi, nzala lelo, nzala lisusu lobi]. Also when we get it, you should see it: look at this! [pointing to plate with dark fufu on the ground]. When we get something this is what we get. Not even the pigs would eat it. Also, is this food for soldiers in combat who have to walk long distances and carry heavy weapons? It also makes people angry and anger makes you want to do bad stuff. Rape is also part of that. But it is not good.” The Complexity of Violence: a critical analysis of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nordic Africa Institute, 2010 As the conflict is fought within communities, violence occurs mostly in homes, villages, and in the fields where people work. Communities are often targeted for conspiring with the enemy or are looted after a skirmish. The Congolese security forces have also been known to loot (and commit acts of sexual violence on the civilian population) due to unpaid salaries or during mutinies against officers. All sides in the conflict have committed systematic rape and gender violence including...
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...sent a letter to Prime Minister Beernaert. Leopold hired Henry Stanley to convince the Prime Minister. The letter contained ways of persuasion to convince him into letting King Leopold to build a Belgian colony in Congo. The Prime Minister agreed thinking it will be a positive change to Congo, like the letter said. In reality, Belgium was using Congo for their natural resources....
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...at least 12 countries with a documented history of child soldiers this paper will focus on one country in Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo. The research will describe how and why children are becoming soldiers, what life is like for child soldiers, how some children avoid becoming soldiers, and what happens to the soldiers when they become free. Since 1997 the Democratic Republic of Congo has become something like a never-ending nightmare, one of the bloodiest conflicts since World War II, causing more than five million deaths. It seems inconceivable that the biggest country in sub-Saharan Africa and on paper one of the richest, packed with copper, diamonds and gold, as well as immense farmlands of great fertility and enough hydropower to light up the continent, is now one of the poorest, and most hopeless nations on earth. Unfortunately, there are no promising solutions within grasp, or even within sight. One of the gloomiest parts about this nightmarish conflict is the use of child soldiers. The overwhelming majority of child soldiers in the Congo have been kidnapped from their families by rebel groups. It has been estimated that one in ten child soldiers or 30,000 children are found in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The United Nations believes that 15-30% of all newly recruited soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo army are less than 18 years old. One...
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...World Bank and IMF are lending institutions that provide funding to developing countries. These developing countries are to use this funding to support projects and/or policies that are designed to fight poverty and other economic concerns. Developing countries such as, Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC) are plagued with poverty, health concerns and lack many of the basic necessities to live. Many question whether the support from these institutions are beneficial or do they actually hinder the development of countries such as DRC. I believe that, developing countries can benefit from the aid the World Bank and IMF can provide them. With the support from the World Bank and IMF they can build hospitals, roads, schools, or put in place reforms to help become a developed country. The DRC once plagued with conflict and civil wars leaving the country in a fragile place. The outlook for the DRC looks promising, they have made significant economic progress since the wars. The World Banks shows that DRC registered a growth rate of 8.5% in 2013 and it also shows that inflation was at 53% in 2009 but it fell to 1% in 2013. The World Bank expects the economy to grow steadily in the medium term at around 7 to 8%.These results are not just from funding from the World Bank but a combination of a change in government structure and also public investments. The country has made great strides in rebuilding the country. The change in the government matrix and the funding from World Bank allowed...
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...The Republic Democratic of Congo is the third largest country in Africa and one of the richest due to his mineral such as gold, and diamond. Today, this country is in constant war because his neighbor country are in need to explore his mineral illegally using force. They rape women and girls to terrify the population and get the attention of political personage. Yes! Rape is used as a weapon in Congo causing a higher rate of mortality of women when the international community does not take a look at the situation as they should for other countries in the world. War rape is one of the most devastating tool used in the East of Congo to evacuate some area so that militant can explore the ground and get gold or diamond. According to Africa Review...
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...The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) also known as Congo is a country in central Africa ,rich in natural resources and minerals (I.e.: Gold ,Diamond and bronze).The wealth of Congo lured King Leopold the 2nd of Belgium to Congo. The country was later taken over by the Belgium parliament upon pressure from England and other international powers. Under its rule Belgium exploited Congo of its resources which in turn strengthened Belgium economy. The Congo got its independence from Belgium in June 30th 1960.At this time, DRC was the second most industrialized country in Africa; it boasted a thriving mining sector and its agricultural sector was relatively productive. Attempting to remove foreign influence on his country, Patrice Lumumba led the Mouvement National Congolais party. Initially a government was established under the leadership of Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba and President Joseph Kasavubu .This government lasted for only two weeks .In early July the Army mutinied against the government and committed acts of violence against the remaining Belgium...
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...Adam Hochschild writes a historical text, King Leopold’s Ghost. In this, Leopold is a powerful king who is currently in control of land in the Congo. Throughout the passage, his language provides contrasts between his desired dream of his kingdom and the actual realities of the Congo. Hochschild compares the plantations of the Congo to his fantasy. The author narrates the thoughts circling in Leopold’s mind: “The Congo in Leopold’s mind was not the one of starving porters, raped hostages, emaciated rubber slaves, and severed hands” (Hochschild). The description of “starving”, “raped hostages”, and “emaciated rubber slaves” all provide a pessimistic connotation. Here it is implied that the Congo is a poor country, and the country relies on...
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...Investigation on Democratic Republic of Congo, Treaties with Mexico and Purchase Contract with a DRC vendor. Student: I.D.: Luz Amairany Garduño Gutiérrez 1580590 Group: 4Di Semester: 4th Classroom: 18 Student: I.D.: Luz Amairany Garduño Gutiérrez 1580590 Group: 4Di Semester: 4th Classroom: 18 Professor: Victor Hugo Moreno San Nicolas de los Garza, Ciudad Universitaria, May 17th 2015 INDEX Introduction………………………………………………………………………….2 LESCANT……………………………………………………………………………3 Treaties………………………………………………………………………………9 Contract of Purchase………………………………………………………………10 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………….15 References………………………………………………………………………….16 Introduction Since the beginning of time people have searched for communicate for others, for don’t being on their own. When communication started to fluctuate humans discovered that they had needs and in some cases they had to give in order to receive other thing. Trade started and with the time society established rules and with that the trade law got born. The main purpose of this project is to learn about the Democratic Republic of Congo and how it works with the issues...
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...The Democratic Republic of the Congo, also known as DRC, is a developing country in central Africa. With an estimated population of 6.7 million, approximately 11% of the population are in a food insecurity situation (Source 3) . The main cause for food insecurity in the DRC is conflict. Almost 16 years of armed conflict have occurred in the DRC (Source 4). Conflict has affected families, crop production, education, and health care. Many families have been broken up due to conflict. The family sizes range from approximately 1 to 14 people (Source 4). About half of the Congolese population is single (Source 4), and the average age for people living in the DRC is 18 (Source 1). There are approximately 2.4 million people internally displaced (Source 4). Many of the displaced people have turned into nomadic tribes, and others have sought refuge in neighboring countries (Source 3). They have been driven out of their homes because of the conflict in the country. The average schooling is 10 years, but there is no access to school for many of the children (Source 1). Approximately 67 percent of the population is literate (Source 1). According to The World Factbook, there are 0.11 physicians for every 1,000 people and there are 0.8 hospital...
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...The Congo Crisis in 1960 followed the Cold War and many of the tensions from it, and it was speculated that these Cold War tensions would arise again in Africa. The United Nations was quick to pursue the Security Council to send peacekeepers to the Congo to ensure a smooth transition as an independent state. Spooner’s article “Just West of Neutral” argues how Prime Minister Diefenbaker’s government pursued a policy that acknowledge the importance of achieving Western objectives in Congo while also avoiding Cold war views of some NATO allies. One of the main issues this article raises is Canada’s place in this matter and how it functioned as a member of the United Nations, NATO, and now ONUC. Earlier events such as the Suez Crisis gave a strong public opinion by Canadians that Canada should act as peacekeepers during the Congo crisis. Spooner...
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...of the Institution Date Introduction From 1990, United Nations implemented its peacekeeping role in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to the internal wars among the Congo people. MONUSCO is the biggest peacekeeping mission in the world. The presence of the UN peacekeeping body is to provide peace, protection in addition to security to the civilians. However, the peacekeeping agency has faced criticisms due to its failure to provide peace in Congo. In my evaluation, MONUSCO has failed in containing the political and ethnic conflicts among others. Therefore, this paper dwells on discussing failures and achievements of MONUSCO in Congo. The following are the achievements of MONUSCO. MONUSCO has played a significant role in ensuring that the elections in Congo are held peacefully and democratically. Secondly, MONUSCO has created peacekeeping missions and projects such as educating women in HIV/AIDS prevention in Sange area in Congo. Thirdly, the agency is holding peacekeeping talks between the Congolese government and the MG23 which has helped reduce the tension between the two parties. Despite the achievements of MONUSCO, it has failed in implementing its roles effectively. For example it failed in preventing rape and the violation of the human rights in eastern Congo in Burundi village. Mass rape of around 240 women in eastern Congo was carried out by Maï-Maï Sheka rebels and the Rwanda’s FDLR group in the period of July 30th to 4th August 2010 alone. The crimes took...
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...Price’s mission in the Congo to spread the word of God to the Kilanga tribes despite their reluctance. As Nathan Price forms the foundations of his religious work and aims to have complete control over the Congolese and the way they live their life, the section conforms with the quote and the title, Genesis. In Book 2, the quote is applicable to this section of the text in that Anatole urges Nathan and the family to leave the Congo because of the emerging revolution that will take place. However, Nathan refuses to hear Anatole out, especially since he keeps insinuating that his religion is corrupting Kilanga and its people. Nathan instead blocks out all noise and opposition, not hearing...
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...Moving to a different country is difficult enough but moving to Congo with the intention to convert the illiterate locals to a new religion takes immense dedication and patience. Nathan Price an opinionated, evangelical, Baptist from the town of Bethlehem, Georgia brings his family of six to do just that. Nathan, his wife, and his four daughters are located at Kilanga an isolated village in Congo. Nathan is very confident that he will convert all the locals in the name of God but he is forgetting something, Nathan is forgetting that he is in a place where not just the language is different but also the inherent perspectives. The story of The Poisonwood Bible starts with the frantic commotion of the Price family after they have just been told that there is a wieght limit for their bags which are overflowing with seemingly essential pieces of their once known life. It seems as if the reason the Price family insisted on stuffing cake mixes, books and other western novelties was not to have them in case but to have some connection with the world they grew up in. For Orleanna, Nathan's wife, her special bone-china platter with the blue flowers has a “protective power of primitive amulets and charms, that is an assurance that the arrow, the flames, and the flood are not as brutal as they seem.” (The Hero with a Thousand Faces, p107)....
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...The family of white, Southern Baptists, led by their overbearing missionary father, could be labeled as outsiders the minute they landed in the Congo. Set out to bring Christianity into the jungle of Africa, this family would soon be devastated by their new home. However, it was not the jungle itself, or the native people that tore the Price family apart but their own inability to change. Specifically, Nathan Price, the patriarch of the family, who led them to this fate and, determined to convert the village of Kilanga, remained in his missionary role long after the women of the family had stopped believing in him. In this novel, The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver addresses the barriers the family faced. She uses the perspective of the Price women, Orleanna Price and her four daughters, to show the family’s own turmoil as well as their difficulties in the culturally proud village their husband and father is trying to change. Her insight into the Price’s time in the Congo focuses on the message that one trying to change others must be able and willing to change themselves....
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...Heart of Darkness There are many themes that run through the novel Heart of Darkness. There are however two main and significant ones. These are the theme of restraint and man's journey into self. The importance of restraint is stressed throughout Heart of Darkness. In the novel Marlow is saved by restraint, while Kurtz is doomed by his lack of it. Marlow felt different about Africa before he went, because the colonization of the Congo had "an idea at the back of it." Despite an uneasiness, he assumed that restraint would operate there. He soon reaches the Company station and receives his first shock, everything there seems meaningless. He sees no evidence here of that "devotion to efficiency" that makes the idea work. In the middle of this, Marlow meets a "miracle". The chief accountant has the restraint that it takes to get the job done. He keeps up his appearance and his books are in "apple-pie order." Marlow respects this fellow because he has a backbone. "The cannibals some of those ignorant millions, are almost totally characterized by restraint." They outnumber the whites "thirty to five" and could easily fill their starving bellies. Marlow "would have as soon expected restraint from a hyena prowling amongst the corpses of a battlefield." The cannibal’s action is "one of those human secrets that baffle probability." This helps Marlow keep his restraint, for if the natives can possess this quality Marlow feels he certainly can. Kurtz is...
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