Salome (not her real name) slowly stands up to tell her story after about five other women had spoken. In a clear gentle voice she begins to narrate her own experience that leaves one confused, hurting and the feeling to immediately act.

“My name is Salome. My home is 70 kms away from here in place called Ritchuru. I used to live there in my parent home until things changed for me about 3 years ago. One day when I was coming to Goma town to sell some wares I met about three soldiers on the way to the market. I knew two of them but without saying a word to me they began raping me repeated and then left me for dead. I was rescued by some good Samaritans and taken to the hospital at Heal Africa. There I received treatment and later decided to report these men to the police. These men were arrested and I was told we would go to court.

I travelled back to my village in Ritchuru but when I came back after about two weeks the first people I saw in the market place were these soldiers who were walking very confidently and looked like they did not have any problems. I go t so scared and quickly ran away so that I would go somewhere safe. Do you know why? Because I felt they were even going to do worse things.

After this happened me I began asking myself several questions which I could not answer because a few years before then I saw my own mother being raped. She later died of HIV/AIDS. I have also recently discovered that I am HIV/AIDS positive.