Women's Participation, Rights, and Civil Society Essential to Peaceful Future for Great Lakes Region and DRC The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security welcomed the UN Security Council's attention to "the full and effective participation of women in conflict resolution and peace building" in today's high-level meeting on the Great Lakes region, including the Democratic Republic of Congo. In her briefing to the Security Council, UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region Mary … [Read more...]
You Did It, Congo Peace is on the White House Agenda
February 8, 2013 by
The Maman Shujaa 'Hero Women' of Congo thank you and everyone who signed their petition calling for a special US presidential envoy to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Your voices have made a difference. As Neema Namadamu toured the US this past fall, heralding a women-led peace movement in the Democratic Republic of Congo, she had a goal in sight: for her message to reach the White House. Thanks to your signatures on her Change.org petition, Neema's dream has become a … [Read more...]
Goma wounded – Heal Africa, in North Kivu
January 3, 2013 by
For years, Heal Africa, in North Kivu's provincial capital of Goma, has helped victims of sexual violence and children with HIV/AIDS. But when fresh conflict erupted, the non-profit opened its doors to the wounded as well. WFP is helping them recover through food assistance. GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo - Elie Kakoulaje sits on the edge of his cot at Heal Africa’s hospital, the stump of his left arm wrapped in a thick bandage. A few weeks ago, he was an ordinary 12-year-old in … [Read more...]
DRC: Surge in sexual violence in North Kivu* – Take Action!
December 7, 2012 by
MINOVA, 7 December 2012 (IRIN) - Sexual violence is on the rise as armed groups continue to move across the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) North Kivu Province, officials say. Since mid-November, the provincial capital, Goma, has been a site of battle, with rebel group M23 taking control of the city on 20 November. Following negotiations with neighbouring countries, M23 relinquished control of the city on 1 December, and the Congolese national army, FARDC, is back in charge. … [Read more...]
Save our Congo Sisters, ‘we call upon our global sisterhood to Take Action’
November 30, 2012 by
"We have had enough. We call upon our global sisterhood to take action. We will not be quiet until REAL Peace is upon us." ----Neema Namadamu, DRC On November 20th M23 rebels seized Goma, a major city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, reigniting a war that has ravaged the region for 16 years. World Pulse Correspondent Neema Namadamu and our community of 200 Congolese women who call themselves the Mama Shujaa ('Hero Women' in Swahili) are calling on you and women leaders at the White … [Read more...]
