Clinton: U.S. to aid Congo rape victims

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Tuesday rampant sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo is "evil in its basest form."

Speaking in Goma, epicenter of Congo's war-ravaged eastern region, Clinton announced a $17 million program to help rape victims there, including efforts to train gynecologists and giving video cameras to victims to record the crimes, The New York Times reported.

"This problem is too big for one country to solve alone," she said while speaking with doctors and human rights advocates. "I'm not here to leave a business card, but I can't wave a magic wand either."

Since 1996, eastern Congo has endured two civil wars and battles between militia groups that have left at least 5 million people dead. Hundreds of thousands of women have been raped by soldiers and militia members. Clinton said she came to Goma to call on the Congolese government to better protect its people, the newspaper said.

After a meeting with Congo President Joseph Kabila and other officials, Clinton said at press conference at the governor's mansion: "I spoke at length with President Kabila about the steps needed to be taken to protect civilians. We believe there should be no impunity for the sexual and gender based violence, and there must be arrests and punishment because that runs counter to peace."

Clinton began her Africa mission in Kenya, then traveled to South Africa and Angola. After Congo, she is scheduled to go to Nigeria, Liberia and Cape Verde.