LUGUNGU, Democratic Republic of Congo, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- A U.S.-backed military program intended to protect women from rape by rebels has instead resulted in more sexual assaults by Congolese soldiers, advocates said.
Tens of thousands of poorly trained soldiers were deployed in eastern Congo in January as part of a response to increasing sexual assaults by rebels but the soldiers have begun attacking women, victims told The Washington Post.
Maria Bitondo, who said she and two other women were attacked last month by a soldier, told the Post women and girls of all ages lock themselves indoors at night to avoid attacks by soldiers.
"To avoid getting raped, after 6 p.m., women are not allowed to go out of the house," she said. "With the soldiers here, no woman is safe to go out and walk. We do not even go to the bathroom at night."
A coalition of 88 advocacy organizations Monday said the anti-rape program, which has U.N. backing, is a "human tragedy," the Post said. The coalition has asked U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton -- who is scheduled to visit eastern Congo Tuesday -- to urge officials to provide better protection for women.
