Cologne/Bukavu. Right before the EU Africa Summit in Lisbon, Malteser International calls on the participating countries to push the international community to enforce their commitment for the compliance with the international humanitarian law in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). "In the remote regions of the DRC, hundreds of girls and women are being brutally raped every day. The perpetrators are rarely held accountable. The global community finally has to insist that the international humanitarian law is also implemented and observed in the most secluded areas of this country," Nicolas de Cock de Rameyen, President of Malteser International, claims. The lasting barbaric rapes are a sign for the increasing brutalisation of the society in this East-African country. "A lot of women get pregnant from the rape. With these children born out of violence, there will be a whole generation that does not know anything but brutality and violence, if we don't act now," de Cock points out. "There is no use for the rights to protection against these abuses if they only apply on the paper. The people living in the DRC have to be able to enforce and make use of them."rights to protection against these abuses if they only apply on the paper. The people living in the DRC have to be able to enforce and make use of them."rights to protection against these abuses if they only apply on the paper. The people living in the DRC have to be able to enforce and make use of them."rights to protection against these abuses if they only apply on the paper. The people living in the DRC have to be able to enforce and make use of them."rights to protection against these abuses if they only apply on the paper. The people living in the DRC have to be able to enforce and make use of them."rights to protection against these abuses if they only apply on the paper. The people living in the DRC have to be able to enforce and make use of them."rights to protection against these abuses if they only apply on the paper. The people living in the DRC have to be able to enforce and make use of them."rights to protection against these abuses if they only apply on the paper. The people living in the DRC have to be able to enforce and make use of them."

Malteser International has been active in the DRC since 1996 and is supporting more than 300 health and nutrition centres. Since 2003, the organisation has been supporting girls and women that have been victims of sexual violence. Together with local partner organisations, Malteser International offers them medical care and psycho-social care in personal conversations and self-assistance-groups. The staff members also talk to their husbands and families to prevent the women from being expelled from their communities.

In 2007 alone, Malteser International has so far provided medical and psycho-social treatment for around 8,000 women and girls. Since the beginning of the programme in 2003, more than 35,000 patients could be assisted by Malteser International.

Attention editorial offices! Nicolas de Cock de Rameyen, President of Malteser International, is available for interviews (in French or English). Please call +49 221 98 22 155.