Insights from Our VU Amsterdam Event on Sexual Violence in the DRC
On 12 November, we hosted our long-awaited event at VU Amsterdam on the theme: “The Legal Perspectives on Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War.” Through a panel discussion followed by the screening of the film “Muganga-l’homme qui soigne,” the audience was invited to confront one of the most devastating patterns of armed conflict where sexual violence is systematically used to terrorise and fracture entire communities.
Lessons from the Panel Discussion
The panel brought together the researchers Kim Baudewijns, Judson Ernandes and Lucien Mutulwa. Each of them shed light on a different dimension of this grim reality. From their exchanges and the audience's questions, two key insights emerged. First, sexual violence as a weapon of war is not incidental. It is a deliberate strategy that seeks to destroy the survivor but also to destabilise their entire community by establishing fear, domination and social disintegration. Second, any response must therefore go beyond individual accountability and address the wider system that enables such violence to flourish.
Judson focused on the role played by media and international institutions in reinforcing stigma. He also questioned the effectiveness of certain transitional justice approaches. For him, justice should take forms that align with the needs and expectations of victims and local communities.
Kim expressed a similar view, calling for solutions that break the cycle of violence while allowing room for reconciliation where possible. In her words, some victims need accountability, others need recognition, forgiveness, or simply a space where their suffering is acknowledged. Both agreed that transitional justice should never fuel impunity but must be flexible enough to respond to the complexity of local realities.
Lucien brought the discussion back to the specific context of the eastern DRC. He denounced the persistent cycle in which perpetrators of mass violence are repeatedly reintegrated into state structures, a pattern that sends a troubling message of reward and contributes to widespread impunity. For him, the absence of victim-centred processes over the past three decades has deepened the crisis.
While political negotiations often prioritise the demands of armed groups, survivors remain unheard. Lucien emphasised that for many victims, simply being listened to is an essential first step toward healing.
Building Peace Through Local Priorities
The conversation also expanded to the role of national and international actors in peacebuilding. Participants agreed that sustainable peace in the Great Lakes region requires solutions rooted in the needs of local communities rather than external models that overlook on-the-ground realities. Only an approach that values local knowledge and prioritises community voices can pave the way for genuine stability and accountability.
Muganga-l’homme qui soigne
The second part of the event was dedicated to the screening of Muganga l’homme qui soigne. The film follows the experiences of survivors of sexual violence in eastern DRC and highlights the tireless work of Dr Denis Mukwege whose commitment to protecting women’s rights earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018.
Through powerful testimonies, the film portrays both the brutality of war and the extraordinary courage and resilience of survivors. For many participants, this was their first real encounter with the lived reality of sexual violence in Congo. The film sparked deep reflection and solidarity, with several attendees expressing newfound awareness and empathy toward Congolese youth and affected communities.
This event was more than an academic discussion. It was a moment of collective learning and recognition. It reminded us that addressing sexual violence as a weapon of war requires both legal analysis and human understanding, and that lasting peace begins by giving survivors the place they deserve at the centre of the conversation.
