[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 154 (Friday, September 26, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2018-E2019]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONDEMNING SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 23, 2008

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 
1227. This resolution condemns sexual violence in the Democratic 
Republic of the Congo and calls upon the United States Department of 
State and the international community to take immediate action to end 
this widespread crisis.

[[Page E2019]]

  Since 1998, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has had 5.4 million 
conflict-related deaths, making it the deadliest humanitarian crisis in 
the world since World War II. Over the past decade, hundreds of 
thousands of women and girls have been violently raped as a result of 
this ethnic conflict. These rapes have been exceptionally violent, 
often involving forced incest and mutilation of the female's genital 
organs. Victims' mouths were cut off following the raping to prevent 
them from reporting the crime, while many women and girls were simply 
killed after being subjected to sexual abuse.
  With sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo at such 
tragically high rates, I strongly urge Congress to condemn the actions 
of the perpetrators of these rapes and to support measures to prevent 
the further escalation of this crisis. The Administration must act, in 
concert with the United Nations, to assure that the Congolese people 
have the resources needed to combat the situation. We need to work with 
other African leaders to assist the Congolese in preventing these 
violent sexual crimes from occurring.
  The plight of women in Africa has for too long been ignored. I call 
upon my colleagues to join me in support of this resolution so that we 
can put an end to this deplorable situation that has been allowed to 
persist for over a decade. We cannot stand by any longer as such 
unspeakable acts continue to occur with impunity.

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