BUKAVU, Congo — The wife of Vice President Joe Biden has traveled to conflict-wracked eastern Congo to meet with survivors of sexual violence.

Jill Biden flew to the town of Bukavu on Saturday as part of her three-nation tour of the continent focused on highlighting issues facing women.

Biden visited the Panzi Hospital, which treats sexual violence survivors. As she was greeted by hospital personnel, she said she wanted "to learn and better understand the challenges facing Congolese women."

Rape has long been used as a weapon of war on all sides of the conflict in eastern Congo.

Biden, who traveled to Zambia earlier, is also visiting a center that helps former child soldiers before she leaves Congo. On Sunday, she stops in Sierra Leone before heading back to the United States.