About 1,700 women who had attended a week-long forum on peace and development the capital of Sud-Kivu joined in the march, which was led by Olive Lembe Kabila, the wife of President Joseph Kabila. Reports say the atmosphere of the march was colourful and peaceful, and many demonstrators carried banners with slogans such as "No to sexual terrorism".
"Coming here is important because violence towards women is used systematically as a weapon of war," said Miriam Nobre of the World March of Women which had organised the demonstration. "We have fought this for years, and now it seems that the international community is genuinely interested in our problems," said Nene Rukunghu, a doctor at a hospital in Bukavu where rape victims are treated.
