Rape as a weapon of war has become outrageously common in eastern Congo, where the government army and U.N. peacekeepers have failed to conquer a few thousands of rebels responsible for a protracted conflict fueled by vast mineral reserves. Whilst the primary responsibility for the protection of civilians lies with the state,the actions by the national army and the police force were inadequate resulting in uacceptable brutalization of the population in that region. If the authorities had taken adequate measures putting their heads together in the initial stage, the situation would not have escalated to this extent.