Marie* and Josephine* sit silently opposite each other and look to the floor. The two Congolese girls had declared themselves ready to report their fate to world, hand in hand, but now they have lost their courage. The local state doctor for victims of sexual violence in Mahagi calms them down and promises that nobody will ever know their real names.

The girls play nervously with their hands. Finally, and falteringly, Marie begins to speak: "I was walking in town one evening and still shopping. It was already getting dark, when all of a sudden a soldier came up behind me. I began to move quicker but he kept following me and suddenly, when nobody could see, he dragged me into some bushes and raped me. For a long time I didn't dare to tell anyone about what happened.

My parents know nothing about it, and I can't tell them in any case. My father is a very aggressive man; he would blame me for what happened and beat me or even throw me out of the house."

One day, however, the 18 year old school girl confided in a friend, who then brought her to the health centre in Mahagi. Here at the centre Malteser International will provide the proper treatment for Marie free of charge, including the relevant drugs.

At the sometime the organisation will also ensure that Marie receives proper psychological care and has the chance to discuss with other people what happened to her.

Marie's story is not an isolated case. The men responsible for these outrages are militiamen and rebels. Malteser International provides medical help for the affected women and girls - and increasingly for young boys too.

The organisation focuses on the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases such as hepatitis and HIV/AIDS, while furthermore working with local organisations to provide psychological care for the victims of rape.

In order to inform people in the villages about the free treatment available, Malteser International broadcasts commercials daily through the local radio station. Since the beginning of these projects the women and girls trust the health centre more and more and are coming to seek help. But in spite of this, it remains sadly true that rape is still a taboo subject in Congolese society. Many victims - like Marie - are faced with discrimination if they talk about their experiences.

"My father would accuse me of bringing shame on the whole family," says Marie. Often women must accept their husbands leaving them too, as current opinion leads many men to believe that their wives provoke rape, or even want it.

Josephine had a similar experience: "I was approached by a former soldier in a restaurant. He wanted to buy me a meal, but I declined. When I then went behind the building to the toilet, he followed behind me and attacked me."

After this happened, the 16 year old dragged herself home, where she came across her father, who immediately realised that something had happened. After many demands, Josephine told what had happened to her.

"Compared to Marie, I was very lucky, my father was fully understand, he tried to comfort me and took me straight to the health centre in Mahagi." This act could well have saved her life - for the first 72 hours after a rape victims can be treated by Malteser International with Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), which reduces the risk of an HIV infection by around 80%. The treatment has severe side effects, which Josephine would go on to suffer during the following days.

"Nevertheless, the course of treatment is nothing compared to a possible HIV infection. Later I was tested and the result was negative." Despite what they have experienced, both girls again look hopefully to the future.

"I would like to finish school at any rate so that I can help offer my family a better future," says Marie. Josephine nods approvingly. "I will too. And at the end of I school I want to take up a mechanics apprenticeship; I find cars very exciting, even if this is not typical for girls. But I don't care." For the first time today she is smiling.

Kathrin Meier * Names changed.