Jezebel's recent article on sexual violence in Congo reveals some hope buried within the horror of the current rape epidemic in central Africa. Amy Fallon of the Guardian writes (emphasis mine):

Congo appears to be witnessing the birth of a particularly terrifying kind of rape culture. Says humanitarian researcher Susan Bartels, "Sexual violence has become more normal in civilian life. The scale of rape over Congo's years of war has made this crime seem more acceptable." What's happening in Congo is a horrific reminder that rape isn't just some ever-present evil like bad weather, that women have to learn to avoid. It's a tool of oppression used against women, children, and men as well, and it becomes more common when it goes unpunished.

The "contagious" nature of rape culture is the key to the success of primary prevention. The normalization of rape in central Africa and the subsequent dramatic increase in civilian-committed sexual assaults illustrates this principle all too vividly. Within the terrifying fact of the spread of rape there is also the suggestion of its possible containment and reduction through the creation of a culture in which rape is unacceptable.