UN envoy says over 15,000 raped in eastern Congo

UN envoy says over 15,000 raped in eastern Congo

By Edith M. Lederer, Associated Press Writer – Oct 15, 2010
UNITED NATIONS – More than 15,000 people were raped in the volatile eastern region of Congo last year, according to the best data available, the top U.N. envoy in the African nation said Friday. Roger Meece, who heads the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo, said the scale of the security problems in the east, including sexual attacks, is “enormous.” Meece told the U.N. Security Council that the “horrific” mass rapes in late July and early August by rebel militias in eastern Congo’s mineral-rich Walikale region underscored the importance of protecting civilians….Somewhat different but equally troubling figures were provided by the U.N. Population Fund, which determined there were 17,507 sexual violence attacks throughout Congo in 2009 — including more than 9,000 in North and South Kivu which have been at the center of the conflict in the east.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101015/ap_on_re_us/un_un_congo_rapes

Adult services censored on Craigslist, Children among 100s raped in Congo, U.N. says

Adult services censored on Craigslist By the CNN Wire Staff
September 4, 2010 (CNN) — Embattled online classified service Craigslist apparently made a change to its website early Saturday, censoring its adult services section. The section that usually reads “adult services” was replaced by the word “censored.” It was not immediately clear whether Craigslist removed the adult services and replaced them with the “censored” section that had a link that was not active. But for users who accessed the account outside the U.S., the erotic services link was still active. Craigslist representatives were not immediately available for comment. The website has been under fire for allegations that it promotes prostitution. Last week, attorneys general in 17 states banded together to urge Craigslist to discontinue its adult services. “The increasingly sharp public criticism of Craigslist’s Adult Services section reflects a growing recognition that ads for prostitution — including ads trafficking children — are rampant on it,” the attorneys general said in a Tuesday letter to Craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster and Founder Craig Newmark.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/09/04/craigslist.censored/index.html?iref=NS1

Children among hundreds raped in Congo, U.N. says By the CNN Wire Staff September 4, 2010 (CNN) — More than two dozen children were among the hundreds raped by armed rebels in the war-torn eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the United Nations said.
Twenty-seven minors, including one boy, were among the victims, the U.N. said Friday. One attempted rape was also reported.
The children were among 240 people raped by Rwandan and Congolese rebels who raided villages in North Kivu province between July 30 and August 3, aid groups said. Attackers blocked roads and prevented villagers from reaching outside communications. Many homes were also looted.

Many of the victims were raped by two to six men, according to the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
MONUSCO, the United Nations peacekeeping force in the country, raised the number of victims after earlier reports put it at 156.
Since the rapes were first publicly reported on August 22, more victims have come forward, the force said.
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/09/04/congo.rape.children/index.html