By Ilse van Velzen & Femke van Velzen
In no other country has sexual violence matched the scale of brutality reached in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). During nearly two decades of conflicts between rebels and government forces, an estimated 150,000 Congolese women and girls fell victim to mass rape. That figure continues to rise.
WEAPON OF WAR, an award-winning film honored by Amnesty International, journeys to the heart of this crisis, where we meet its perpetrators. In personal interviews, soldiers and former combatants provide openhearted but shocking testimony about rape in the DRC. Despite differing views on causes or criminal status, all reveal how years of conflict, as well as discrimination against women, have normalized brutal sexual violence. We also see former rapists struggling to change their own or others' behavior, and reintegrate into their communities.
Reviews
~ "ˇviewers will better understand the chilling traumatization of war and of how soldiers gain a sickness that will not go awayˇWeapon of War is not merely a tale of brutality, but also of the transformation of some who have 'come back to themselves'ˇ" - Dr. Peyibomi Soyinka-Airewele, Associate Professor, International/African Politics, Ithaca College
~ "The filmmakers go beyond mere description of the crimes, searching for solutions that would allow the victims and perpetrators to reclaim their sense of dignity." - Planet Doc Review Film Festival, Warsaw, Poland
Award
~ Warsaw International Film Festival Planet Doc Review, Warsaw, Poland, WINNER, Amnesty International Award
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