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| African Women and Girls Victimized by Rape. |
War brings with it a multitude of horrendous consequences. The genocide in Rwanda, civil war in Burundi, and ethnic, tribal, and political wars in Congo resulted in all types of unthinkable violence. One was rape of women and girls. Some women and girls were raped by dozens of men while their husbands and children were forced to participate as spectators. Young girls were raped while their parents and brothers were forced to watch. In certain instances, militia and other armed groups took women and girls as hostages to use them sexually over a period of time. Afterwards, their families had to pay huge sums to buy them back. This kind of uncommon violence had terrible consequences. Victimized women and girls committed suicide because they were ashamed to appear in public. Some women were ostracized or even kicked out by their families. Others contracted HIV. Others bore children conceived when they were raped. These children are unwanted and are tormented by horrible memories. In some cases, even some of the husbands and children committed suicide because their wives, mother and sisters were raped.
FAMA, working together with other organizations, helps these women by teaching trades to those who have been ostracized by their families. FAMA also promotes reconciliation between these women and girls and their families. Some families are being reunited.
There are enormous needs in this area because so many women were raped. In some cases, rapes were systematically carried out throughout the whole town.
You can join with FAMA in rebuilding these families!
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