Failing to involve the perpetrators of rape is causing more conflict because NGOs and the government are not looking at the root of the problem, i.e. the rebels are trying hard to recruit young boys, so if these young kids are given the opportunity to better themselves and live in a stable environment, the rebels will lose members and eventually fade away. Context: Conflicts in Congo Congo has experienced several wars and conflicts, which have left the country severely damaged over the past decade. The first conflict in Congo began in 1996, when Kagame, the president of Rwanda, sent troops into eastern Congo in search of former perpetrators of the Rwandan genocide. One of the main reasons Kagame sent troops to Congo was to try to bring justice to the Tutsi people, but the revenge genocide sadly turned into a decade-long war. “Most of the Rwandan troops who invaded eastern Congo believed that the former perpetrators of the Rwandan genocide and over 2 million Hutus had taken refuge after Kagame came to power” (Planz, 2009). The Tutsi government believes that to end the fighting between two countries (Congo and Rwanda), those responsible for the Rwandan genocide should be brought to justice. When Kagame came to power, he was willing to do whatever was necessary to make the Hutu people take responsibility for the genocide in Rwanda in 1994. The 1996 invasion of eastern Congo began a very brutal war that has lasted for over a decade and as a result, millions of innocent lives have been taken away. In an interview conducted by Planz, residents of eastern Congo said: “They were walking through the village without anyone stopping them, with so many weapons, without talking to anyone. We were so afraid that this would only bring us more fi...... middle of paper ......eremena)Every woman in eastern Congo faces the burden of finding the means to provide for herself and her children . Women in Congo are socialized to prepare for marriage; therefore sex should only happen between two married people. Sex-related taboos push women out of society because they are not considered marriage material. Rape victims often experience a loss of identity because they are no longer seen as girlfriends or wives. Fear is also ingrained in these women's lives because they do not have family support to help them overcome traumatic experiences of rape. Due to fear and shame, some women refrain from receiving medical advice or professional counseling because they fear the social stigma attached to wartime rape. Social changes will discuss issues such as cultural/ethnic cleansing, torture and HIV/AIDS.