On 5 September a military tribunal sitting in Uvira sentenced three soldiers to death for the rape of Bitondo Nyumba, and ordered them to pay $20,000 in compensation. The three men are still serving with their unit in another part of the country. Local NGOs will continue to press for their arrest. Though AI welcomes the news that the perpetrators in this case are to be brought to justice, we remain opposed to the use of the death sentence in any circumstances.

According to the research team, AI's appeals and solidarity actions in this case (including especially by featuring Bitondo Nyumba in Greetings Cards campaigns) over the past three years, in combination with continual lobbying by local NGOs, has helped secure this judgement. Normally a case like this would not have been investigated and forgotten long ago.

This case is now closed.

We suggest you focus one last round of appeals on asking the DRC government to ensure:

- that the perpetrators, who are still serving in the FARDC, are promptly arrested;

- that Bitondo Nyumba's family are provided with adequate compensation;

- that all victims of sexual violence enjoy equal and effective protection under the law and have equal access to justice.

- that emergency programmes of appropriate medical and psychosocial care are established for rape survivors, which should be free of charge.