Additional Questions

The questions continue....

Big Question

How can a product design intervention improve the lives of victims of rape as a weapon of war in the Democratic Republic of Congo on an individual, community and/or national level?

Sub Questions

Political

• What organizations/ factions are involved in the area?
• What is the relationship of DR Congo and neighboring countries and/or international powers?
• How has the status of DRC citizens changed with conflict?
• Are international communities partly responsible for the perpetuating conflict in DRC?
• How is DRC addressing the attacks in the Eastern region?

Economic

• What are alternatives to Coltan?
• What are the major exports and imports in DR Congo?
• What are the current processes used in the region to farm, collect resources, trade etc…?
• How is trade typically conducted on a local, national and international scale in DRC?

Social

• How does a community cope with rape attacks?
• Which communities are most vulnerable in the DRC? Why?
• How has the community deteriorate in a conflict zone & sustaining a number of attacks?
• Are there areas where alternative behavior will prevent attacks from happening?
• Of the 250 languages spoken in DRC, which are the most common in the Eastern region? Is there an issue of miscommunication & misunderstanding between different groups of people?
• How does oral tradition play a role in disseminating information?

Mental/ Emotional

• What are the emotional effects of being raped? Of being neglected after being raped? Of being a family member of someone who was raped? Of being part of a community where people are being raped fairly often?
• What programs or systems are available to victims of rape to help them overcome atrocities?
• How do religion, tradition and taboo affect a victim after the fact?
• Is suicide an issue? Is there a way to find stats?
• What is the psychology/make-up of the perpetrators? Is there a way to work with both the victims and the perpetrators to limit the catalysts of this type of behavior?

Environmental

• What resources are available in the Eastern region of DRC?
• What are the environmental consequences of mining and other practices?
• What environments are displaced peoples living in?

What is the relationship between the land and investors, militants, and