In news from Africa, the International Committee of the Red Cross says cases of rape and sexual violence are on the increase in the Democratic Republic of Congo as fighting between the army, foreign rebels and home-grown insurgents continues. In a recent survey in the country, 28 percent of people interviewed said they knew someone who had been a victim of sexual violence, and 76 percent said they had been affected in some way by the armed conflict.

Nadine Puechguirbal of the International Red Cross: “When committed in connection with armed conflict, sexual violence is a war crime prohibited by international humanitarian law, and as such, I think it’s very important that sexual violence must not be considered as a by-product of war. On the contrary, it can and it must be prevented, and the fight against the impunity of the perpetrators must be given priority.”

One rape victim, known as “Esther,” described a brutal attack on herself and her family.

“Esther”: “They came to the house, opened the door, while beating me up and beating all the children, too. They took everything out. That is when they caught me. I tried to scream and struggle, but it did not help. They took my arms and pulled me like this. My arm got injured. They raped me. I had a big son who was twenty and wanted to get married soon. They killed him.”