In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the incidence of rape and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence is the highest in the world. The United Nations estimates that since armed conflict began in 1996, there have been more than 500,000 cases of rape and sexual violence. In response to this crisis, the Congolese government passed a national law in 2006 on sexual violence that clearly defines rape and provides expedited judicial proceedings for rape cases and greater protection for survivors. Nevertheless, impunity for perpetrators of sexual violence is widespread. What then is being done to ensure that the perpetrators of these crimes are punished? How is civil society filling in the gaps where government has failed to offer expedited judicial proceedings? Listen in to learn about what is being done by civil society, the NGO community, and the Congolese government to combat this crisis in one of Africa’s largest and most important countries.

Recorded Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at Venue Six10.