Citation

Womens World 1999; (34): 19-21.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, Isis-WICCE)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12179103

Abstract

Women and children have always been the most affected victims in situations of violence. Estimates show that thousands of women and children have been raped, maimed, mutilated and abducted under the cover of war. This article presents two testimonies of women affected by the armed conflict in Northern Uganda. The specific focus is on rape and mutilation, with Gulu district used as the area of the study. In the testimony by Madelena, it was noted that one of the rebels, who went to her house, raped her, taking revenge for the misconduct of her brother. As a result of the rape, she had a miscarriage, which then provoked her husband to completely neglect her. Meanwhile, the testimony of Ache R. evinced the statement that women victims were maimed, as well as mutilated. Ache notes that her private parts were pierced with a knife and rebels of the Lord¿s Resistance Army cut the area up to her anus. Despite such horrific ordeals, these women did not give up hope and continued to engage in small-scale business and farming in an effort to look after and educate their children.

Language: en