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On Wednesday, February 11, Save Darfur hosted a discussion on "Violence Against Women and the Darfur Genocide." While I was all too familiar with the systematic murder of civilians in the western part of Sudan since 2003, and well aware of the latest buzz surrounding the warrant issued for President Omar Hassan al-Bashir’s arrest, I was admittedly unaware of the vast use of rape as a weapon of war by the government-backed Janjaweed, especially in the early years of the war. Unfortunately, too many people continue to share my previous ignorance.

Under President al-Bashir’s government, the Janjaweed systematically murdered, tortured and raped hundreds of thousands of civilians. No one was spared – men, women and children were all targeted. As a result of this violence, over 2.5 million people have been displaced and forced to move to dangerous camps where they continue to be attacked day and night. Over 4,000 villages have been destroyed. And some estimates put the death toll as high as 400,000.

The decision to use rape as a weapon of war was extremely calculated, designed to ensure the destruction of a family, as well as the community. In Darfur, women were seen as the center of society and were oftentimes considered the head of a household. In addition to their status in society, women were also well-respected because of their chastity. As devout Muslims, it was absolutely essential for them to maintain their virginity until marriage. By raping Darfuri women, particularly in front of male family members, the Janjaweed essentially raped and destroyed the entire tribe.

In the video shown prior to the discussion, a few women told their stories of being raped. One spoke of being attacked after leaving her camp to collect firewood. She helped her younger sister to escape because she was still a virgin and had a good life ahead of her, but she wasn’t able to save herself.

Victims of rape often suffer from long-term consequences. When it is discovered that a woman has been raped, she is often disowned by her husband and family. A woman may be prosecuted for adultery if she is married. If she is not married, she is no longer considered to be desirable and her prospects for marriage are spoiled. Victims are abandoned and isolated by their communities, frequently suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome, depression, anxiety and social phobias. In addition to physical trauma, such as broken bones and internal and external bleeding, a woman might suffer from long-term psychological damage. Needless to say, this greatly affects a woman’s ability to rebuild and reclaim her life.

Many organizations are working to tackle this serious problem, including Refugees International. RI has released two reports on the issue called "Laws Without Justice: An Assessment of Sudanese Laws Affecting Survivors of Rape" and "Ending Sexual Violence in Sudan: An Advocacy Agenda." And we are currently working with Congress to pass the International Violence Against Women Act, which would significantly expand efforts worldwide to end violence against women and girls.

Like Maria Bello said on Wednesday night, "People need to go where the silence is and say something."  Please urge your member of Congress to support the International Violence Against Women Act. Take action now.

For more information and to watch the film and discussion from Wednesday night, please visit www.savedarfur.org/women.