Congo

The Republic of Congo (henceforth Congo), also known as Congo-Brazzaville, is a small country located in central Africa. Over the past two decades, Congo has had several bouts of civil war and unrest, but it is often overshadowed by its neighbor, the Democratic Republic of Congo, because of its ongoing civil war. With a population of approximately 3.8 million people, Congo suffers from a 70-percent poverty rate that greatly affects the lives of Congolese women.

The 1990s proved to be a turbulent decade for Congo, which suffered from civil war, political instability, and economic downturn. As a result, the number of social issues facing the nation dramatically increased. It has been estimated that approximately 60,000 women aged 12 through 15 years were raped and forced into conscription during the civil war, causing physiological and physical problems for a large number of young women. Victims of rape face increased chances of sexually transmitted diseases and human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), which was very problematic considering the lack of reproductive healthcare available. Since 2002, Congo has been working hard to rebuild its economy, education system, and healthcare system, with a special focus on women's issues.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic is one of the most prominent social issues that women are faced within Congo. Seven percent of women in the Congo are HIV-positive. In response to the climbing HIV/AIDS rates, the Congolese government has initiated several programs to combat the disease, such as subsidized healthcare and antiviral drugs. It is also working to improve AIDS education programs in rural areas.

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