Faith groups are crucial in the fight against sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to Christian charity Tearfund.
Sexual violence is prolific in the DRC, particularly in the eastern region. Up to six million women have lost their lives and 1.8 million have experienced conflict-related sexual violence in the country since 1999.
Thousands of women are raped each day and live in constant threat from armed militias, the military and even the police.
Faith groups are perfectly located in the heart of communities to reach vulnerable people, and Tearfund – which works alongside local churches on the ground – is therefore launching an emergency appeal to help address conflict related sexual violence against women and girls.
"Horrific crimes, including rape, are being committed against women and girls in the DRC on a daily basis. The conflict seems to have been forgotten by the media, but the scale of the humanitarian crisis continues to grow. In addition to the six million lives lost since the beginning of the conflict in 1999, brutal violence, including the threat of rape, has forced 2.7 million people to flee their homes," said David McAllister, Tearfund's country director for DRC.
Annamaria (name changed), 48, was raped at her home in front of her husband by four men. They then killed her husband and her children ran away.
"The men who attacked me took everything, my body, my health, my husband. My children fled. They destroyed my field, my home. I felt like a refugee and I didn't know how to live," she said.
Tearfund's emergency fund will help survivors recover from trauma, rebuild livelihoods and ensure access to safe water and sanitation.
Annamaria is now part of a Community Action Group which supports survivors by helping them to report crimes and reintegrate into their communities. Many of these groups are led by faith leaders.
"Many of the affected communities are often difficult to reach," said McCallister.
"Tearfund recognises the value of local churches and faith leaders as key to addressing the root causes of the conflict. Faith groups are present even in remote, conflict-affected communities, which government and other agencies find hard to reach."
Community Action Groups work alongside other local and national organisations to enable women and children to receive the care they need.
"The Community Action Group has helped me with some training," said Annamaria. "The teaching on healing of memories has helped me to heal and deal with my emotions."
To donate to Tearfund's DRC Emergency Appeal go to www.tearfund.org/drcemergency or call +44 (0)208 977 9144.
