May 15th, 2008
Congolese Women Need Our Help - Bloggers Unite
Blog Catalog teamed up with Amnesty International for Bloggers Unite For Human Rights, May 15th which is ….voila today.
I was going to pass this one up until reading commentary on the web in which “self designated feminists” are going at each other over the endorsement of Obama by NRAL- PAC.
It’s all about them of course.
Then the plight of the Congolese women comes to mind. Women who are now fighting valiantly against all odds to make their voices heard. Women whose willingness to prosecute those who have harmed them, an act which is frightening and not without risks, is just beginning to bear fruit. Strong women in need of our help to gain the power they need to be free of the horrible oppression, degradation and violence of rape as an act of war.
The Congo, despite new laws enacted in 2006, remains a culture of impunity. With women the major providers for their families in the Congo, the results of rape as an act of war is even more devastating to Congolese communities.
Until we start asking those most egregiously affected by oppression what we can do to help them, whether it be the underclass in these United States, of which women are in the majority, or the women of the Congo, there will be no equality.
No equality, because no matter how many books are written, or how many lectures or seminars on the subject of sexism are attended by upper middle class college students, no matter how many women are CEO’s of major corporations, university president’ s, or Mayors of major cities – until the women who can’t get an education, feed their families, get health insurance, or even, as is the case in The Congo , live free of brutal rape as an act of war….we have failed.
Some places where you can help.
I personally recommend:
Women for Women International.
Congolese Women Transforming Their Lives - pdf
Run for Congo Women – my county did a successful run a couple months ago. I believe this is a good fund raising opportunity, pass it on and raise awareness.
The Greatest Silence still has some limited showing on HBO.
The Greatest Silence Web Site.
The IRC has a section where you can send a message to women in the Congo.
An IRC’S Voices From the Field you will be able to read and see what IRC workers have experienced and through them what the women in the Congo are going through. with photos courtesy of Melissa Winkler, and Peter Biro.
