“The men sent my parents away at the point of their AK-47, then they raped me.”

Six Rwandan Defence Force engineers visited Camp Lemonnier and Chebelley Airfield, Djibouti, Feb. 23-26, 2016, to see how U.S. military members work and live in different types of expeditionary camps.

Cynthia Petrigh, from Beyond Peace, discusses gender based violence at U.S. AFRICOM’s Fourth Africa Accountability Colloquium (ACIV) on “Responding to Gender Based Violence During Peace Operations.” Nearly 40 military legal professional and commanders from 20 African countries have come together in an effort to lay the foundation for responding to sexual violence allegations that occur during peacekeeping operations. The annual event is once again being hosted by the International Institute of Humanitarian Law (IIHL) in Sanremo, Italy, Mar. 1-3, 2016. (U.S. Africa Command photo by Brenda Law/RELEASED)

Commandant Ngarhordje Dedjiri and her colleague from Chad hear opening comments at the U.S. AFRICOM's Fourth Africa Accountability Colloquium (ACIV) on “Responding to Gender Based Violence During Peace Operations.” Nearly 40 military legal professional and commanders from 20 African countries have come together in an effort to lay the foundation for responding to sexual violence allegations that occur during peacekeeping operations. The annual event is once again being hosted by the International Institute of Humanitarian Law (IIHL) in Sanremo, Italy, Mar. 1-3, 2016. (U.S. Africa Command photo by Brenda Law/RELEASED)

Group photo of participants of the U.S. AFRICOM’s Fourth Africa Accountability Colloquium (ACIV) on “Responding to Gender Based Violence During Peace Operations.” Nearly 40 military legal professional and commanders from 20 African countries have come together in an effort to lay the foundation for responding to sexual violence allegations that occur during peacekeeping operations. The annual event is once again being hosted by the International Institute of Humanitarian Law (IIHL) in Sanremo, Italy, Mar. 1-3, 2016. (U.S. Africa Command photo by Brenda Law/RELEASED)

Former African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Commander, Maj. Gen. Fred Mugisha draws an African spear as an analogy to describe the challenge of executing peace operations where multiple systems of law are in use, and soldiers require the support of their command in confronting extraordinary logistical challenges." Mugisha delivered the keynote address at the U.S. AFRICOM’s Fourth Africa Accountability Colloquium (ACIV) on “Responding to Gender Based Violence During Peace Operations.” Nearly 40 military legal professional and commanders from 20 African countries have come together in an effort to lay the foundation for responding to sexual violence allegations that occur during peacekeeping operations. The annual event is once again being hosted by the International Institute of Humanitarian Law (IIHL) in Sanremo, Italy, Mar. 1-3, 2016. (U.S. Africa Command photo by Brenda Law/RELEASED)

Legal Counsel to the Commander, U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Marine Col. Donald Riley delivers comments at AFRICOM’s Fourth Africa Accountability Colloquium (ACIV) on “Responding to Gender Based Violence During Peace Operations.” Nearly 40 military legal professional and commanders from 20 African countries have come together in an effort to lay the foundation for responding to sexual violence allegations that occur during peacekeeping operations. The annual event is once again being hosted by the International Institute of Humanitarian Law (IIHL) in Sanremo, Italy, Mar. 1-3, 2016. (U.S. Africa Command photo by Brenda Law/RELEASED)

Deputy Chief of Legal Services for the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces, Col. Godard Busingye, (left), and President of the International Institute of Humanitarian Law (IIHL), Prof. Fausto Pocar at the U.S. AFRICOM’s Fourth Africa Accountability Colloquium (ACIV) on “Responding to Gender Based Violence During Peace Operations.” Nearly 40 military legal professional and commanders from 20 African countries have come together in an effort to lay the foundation for responding to sexual violence allegations that occur during peacekeeping operations. The annual event is once again being hosted by the International Institute of Humanitarian Law (IIHL) in Sanremo, Italy, Mar. 1-3, 2016. (U.S. Africa Command photo by Brenda Law/RELEASED)

U.S. Army Capt. Morgan Shepard, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Public Information officer, discusses civil military operations and the roles of Public Affairs and Public Information Officers, Feb. 2, 2016, at RDF headquarters, Kigali, Rwanda. During the engagement, U.S. Army civil affairs and Rwanda Defense Force Civil Military Co-operation (CIMIC) discussed similarities and differences between the organizations. The RDF will use the knowledge gained during the event to address training and organizational needs for their forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Peter Thompson)

U.S. Army Sgt. Nathaniel Mitcavish, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Civil Affairs specialist, discusses essential tasks for Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) officers Feb. 3, 2016, at Rwanda Defense Force headquarters, Kigali, Rwanda. During the engagement, U.S. Army civil affairs and Rwanda Defense Force CIMIC personnel discussed similarities and differences between the organizations. The RDF plans to use the knowledge gained during the event to address training and organizational needs for their forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Peter Thompson)

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Gordon, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa civil affairs specialist, discusses civil affairs pre-deployment training tasks Feb. 3, 2016, at Rwanda Defence Force headquarters, Kigali, Rwanda. Rwandan CIMIC officers have many of the same roles and responsibilities as U.S. Army civil affairs. Army civil affairs specialists are responsible for researching civil environments, acting as liaisons between civil components of an operational environment, and conducting security force assistance, while enabling the civil-military operations of the supported commander. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Peter Thompson)

U.S. Army Capt. Morgan Shepard, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Public Information officer, listens as Rwanda Defense Force Army Capt. Edouard Turatsinze, Ministry of Defense Public Relations and Communications officer, discusses a topic Feb. 2, 2016, at RDF headquarters, Kigali, Rwanda. CIMIC officers have many of the same roles and responsibilities as U.S. Army civil affairs personnel. Army civil affairs specialists are responsible for researching, coordinating, conducting and participating in the planning and production of civil affairs related documents, while enabling the civil-military operations of the supported commander. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Peter Thompson)

Representatives from the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Army civil affairs battalion and information operations office sign a guest book at the Rwanda Peace Academy Feb. 4, 2016, in Musanze, Rwanda. Rwanda is one of the largest contributors of forces to peacekeeping operations in East Africa. The Ministry of Defence's impact continues to expand as the Rwanda Peace Academy takes on a larger role as an international training, research and education center. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Peter Thompson)