In the Congo, What Does A War Rape Victim Want?

By Wendy Wright | February 3, 2016

The latest wedge campaign by abortion advocates is to exploit rapes committed in war. The U.S., they argue, ought to pay for abortions in other countries where there is conflict or refugees.

But what do the women want?

Recently, an American talked with a young woman in the “rape capital of the world,” the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Esperanza had a child after being raped by two rebels when she was 14.

In his article “We Don’t Want Your Abortion, America,” Matt Mihelic explains how pro-abortion groups, funded by the U.S., are pushing abortion internationally.

And he summarizes — as an eyewitness can — what Esperanza needs:

As elements within the U.S. seek to use the plight of war rape to export abortion overseas, actual victims of rape in the DRC by and large reject the offer. The Western movement to introduce abortion into developing nations harkens back to the eugenics movement of the early 20th century in which Western elites sought to limit populations, especially among individuals whose lives were considered less desirable. Similarly, children born of rape in the DRC are seemingly considered by American pro-abortion advocates as being in a category of persons whose lives should be susceptible to abortion funded by U.S. aid.

Instead of abortion, victims of rape in conflict areas like the Congo need policy change that better promotes justice and peace in these regions. The numbers of actual rape convictions fall appallingly short from the numbers of victims, and diplomatic efforts should focus on advancing the justice systems in places like the DRC. Forcing abortion into these countries will not prevent a single rape. On the contrary, legalized abortion might enable rapists to hide their abuse and thus repeat it more easily.

It was difficult hearing many of the details of Esperanza’s rape. However, one of the great moments of the interview came when I asked her to describe her daughter, Silvia, now three. Cracking a smile, she affectionately remarked that Silvia was “the same as” her and how Silvia brings tremendous happiness to her.

I asked if at any point she has ever wished she had had an abortion. Her response was one of shock, grief, and even offense as she remarked that such a thing is inconceivable to her. She didn’t even want to think about it. Her reaction caused me to realize just how desensitized my culture has become towards a topic that by its very nature should shock the conscience.

It is well-worth reading the whole article at Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission:

https://erlc.com/article/we-dont-want-your-abortion-america

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