“ALL WE WANT IS AN END TO THIS IMPUNITY”

Justine Masika Bihamba is a human rights worker in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). She and her family have been targeted by the DRC military because of her work as the coordinator of the women’s human rights NGO, Synergie des femmes contre les violences sexuelles (SFVS). SFVS counsellors have regularly been threatened and attacked because of their work.

Justine was out of the house on 18 September 2007, when six army soldiers forced their way into Justine’s home. They tied up her six children at gunpoint, and assaulted two of them. Justine’s 21-year-old daughter pleaded with the soldiers to take what they wanted but not to hurt anyone. One of the soldiers replied that they had not come to steal anything, but rather were on a “well-defined mission” (“une mission bien déterminée”). The group searched the house. One soldier kicked Justine’s 24-year-old daughter in the face, breaking her tooth. He then tried to rape Justine’s 21-year-old daughter and sexually assaulted her with a knife.

Justine returned home during the attack and immediately telephoned the authorities. In a search of the neighbourhood with the military police, Justine and her children identified the soldiers involved in their attack as those guarding an army officer. The military police refused to arrest the men and claimed that there was no evidence against them.

On 27 September 2007, Justine lodged a legal complaint against the soldiers. In the following weeks and months, senior military and civilian authorities promised Justine that justice would be done. One year on from the attack, however, the men have still not been arrested or brought to trial.

Justine regularly sees the same men in the streets that attacked her children in their home. They continue to threaten her. Justine’s five-year-old son now fears he will be killed whenever he sees a soldier. Her two daughters have fled abroad.

Background Information

Months after a peace agreement to end conflict in North Kivu province, civilians are still being killed, raped, abducted and tortured by armed group and government forces. Amnesty International has found evidence that armed groups have continued to commit crimes, including unlawful killings, rape, torture, and the recruitment of child soldiers. Government security forces have also unlawfully detained and ill-treated children, and continue to sexually abuse women and girls. Amnesty International is urging the DRC government and armed groups to renew their commitment to upholding international human rights and humanitarian law.

Recommended Action

• Calling for an immediate, full and impartial investigation into the attack on Justine Masika Bihamba’s family, including the sexual assault and attempted rape of her daughter, with the perpetrators brought promptly to justice.
• Asking for the immediate protection of human rights defender Justine Masika Bihamba and her family.

(Please also click here to support the work of the Congolese Women's Campaign against Sexual Violence which includes SFVS.)

Address To:

Président Joseph Kabila
Cabinet du Président
Palais de la Nation
Kinshasa/Gombe
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Salutation: Your Excellency
cabinet_president@yahoo.fr

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