What if the phone in your hand was linked to a war crime?

DNAforAFRICA
Oct 31
2 min read

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the minerals powering our everyday technology are also fueling brutal conflicts. The women and children affected are not random victims. They are targeted because of wars driven by the demand for precious minerals like cobalt and coltan, found in this region, which power our smartphones and laptops. As long as we rely on and use these technologies, we cannot look away from the human cost paid by survivors: rape is being used as a weapon of war. At Panzi Hospital in the DRC, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr Denis Mukwege and his team treat survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) every day. Yet many perpetrators escape justice because vital forensic DNA evidence is missing. Without the ability to collect, process, and preserve samples, accountability remains out of reach.

That’s why DNAforAfrica, in partnership with the University of Cape Town (UCT) and Panzi Hospital, has launched Samples2Solutions (S2S), an initiative to build forensic DNA capacity that empowers survivors and strengthens justice systems in conflict-affected regions. The long-term vision is for institutions like Panzi Hospital to establish their own forensic DNA infrastructure, ensuring survivors’ voices are heard and justice can be pursued.

The Samples2Solutions project also aims to build sustainable forensic DNA capacity in the DRC, where sexual violence rates remain alarmingly high and survivors often lack access to justice. Key project activities will include:

DNA profiling at UCT, where samples from Panzi will be processed as part of a pilot programme.
Training forensic nurses to collect DNA evidence ethically and with dignity.
Recruitment and sample collection through safe, consent-based procedures.
Secure transport of samples from the DRC to South Africa.
DNA analysis at UCT to generate profiles that can support accountability.