Rwanda: violence committed against women in the context of generalized armed conflict
Mukakayumba, E.
Recherches Feministes 8(1): 145-154
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0838-4479 PMID: 12320163 Document Number: 205340
Over the course of less than 3 months, the massacres in Rwanda, which followed the assassination of Rwanda¿s president on April 6, 1994, beat all historical records of such horrors in the end of the 20th century. From April 6 to the beginning of July 1994, more than 1 million people were killed in the internal conflict. In addition, millions of refugees were displaced inside and outside of the country. Even in the refugee camps, displaced people were not safe. For example, in the Goma refugee camp, more than 20,000 people died from cholera during the second half of July. Also during the period, the number of unaccompanied children reached more than 200,000. In this context of war, death, and disease, women suffered and continue to suffer violence. Mental and physical cruelty, and being condemned to living a miserable life in silence and isolation are discussed with regard to women in Rwanda. The most frequent reported forms of physical cruelty are rape, bodily mutilation, especially of the reproductive organs, forced marriage, and forced servitude. Such violence and cruelty are discussed. One form of mental cruelty involves forcing a mother to help mutilate and/or kill family members. Young boys were sometimes forced to rape their mothers, while other times soldiers cut off husbands¿ genitals in front of their wives, then placed the body parts into their mouths.