Wherever war breaks out, men with guns rape. But nowhere in the world reached sexual violence a scale and level of brutality as in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Possibly hundreds of thousands of women and girls were systematically raped and the figure still rises.
In Weapon of War military perpetrators unveil the hidden motives and strategies of rape as a war crime in Congo. The film tells the story of a soldier and a former rebel that are both facing rape in different ways.
Release date: october 2009
Running time: 59 min
CREDITS
Scenario & Directing:
Ilse van Velzen, Femke van Velzen
Producer:
IFproductions
Director of Photography:
Bram van Spengen
Sound: Femke van Velzen
Editing: Paul de Heer
Music & Sound design:
Jeroen Goeijers
Field producer:
Nynke Douma
SPONSORS
Kingdom of the Netherlands, ICCO, Oxfam Novib, Cordaid, Untited Broadcast Facilities, Mensen Met een Missie, Stichting Democratie en Media
The ex-rebel explains how he forced women to have sex with him. The war had changed him into a wild animal. In an attempt to reconcile with his past, he meets one of his victims. But faced with poverty, depression and trauma, starting a normal life again proves a difficult struggle – like it is for thousands of others that participated in Congo’s bloody wars. Captain Basima is working as a priest in Congo’s army. He has made it his mission to confront perpetrators of rape with the consequences of their crimes. Despite the resistance he meets from fellow-soldiers and militia, he is determined to change their behavior. Just like he did.
