Women, Peace, and Security: Women News Network: "CONGO: Discussion groups help male youth work to prevent violence against women"

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Women News Network: "CONGO: Discussion groups help male youth work to prevent violence against women"

"(WNN) KINSHASA, DRC: As paramilitary violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues with the absence of much of the western world’s media coverage, United Nations Children’s Fund – UNICEF is helping to bring ‘child-friendly’ spaces to adolescents who have been displaced. Many Congolese youth have experienced, seen or have had loved ones directly affected by violence. Working together with AVSI – the Association of Volunteers in International Service founded in Italy in 1972, along with World Vision, UNICEF is helping to bring adolescent girls and boys to a safe and protected space they can ‘call their own’ where they can discuss issues close to the heart of all teenagers." Read more here: http://womennewsnetwork.net/2012/01/14/congo-discussion-groups-help-male-youth/

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WELCOME TO MY BLOG "Women, Peace, and Security"

In 2009 I interviewed a woman about her experiences during the post-election violence in Kenya. The woman's name was Amina, a thirty year old mother of two. During the interview Amina described the night that changed her life:

"Me and my husband were walking home in the dark, it was the election night, when we were attacked by an angry mob. I recognized some of them as my neighbours. They separated us and started beating my husband and raping me. I don't know how many they were, after a while I lost count and became unconcious.

When I woke up I was in pain and bleeding. I found my husband who had been beaten to death, his dead body was lying on the ground covered in blood. After the rapes and murder of my husband, I was tested positive for HIV. I feel very weak and have a hard time supporting my two sons. In the community people look down on me, they think I killed my husband by giving him HIV and they say that I'm a bad woman for sleeping with all those other men."

Unfortunatly, Amina is not alone; women and girls often suffer sexual violence in conflict. Tens of thousands of women were raped in Bosnia, half a million during the Rwandan genocide, and every day women are raped in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Behind every statistic are stories like Amina's.

Last year the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Margot Wallström visited the Congo and was told by a survivor that: "A dead rat is worth more than the body of a woman." This blog has been created to raise awareness of sexual violence in conflict and to empower women to work towards a better future were a woman's body is worth more than a dead rat, a future were women are not mere victims and survivors, but also leaders and respected members of their communities.

Together we can raise the awareness about sexual violence in conflict and push our governments to act. We all have a voice; we just have to make ourselves heard. So Please spread the word to friends and family and use facebook, twitter, and other social networking sites. My hope is that you will find this blog interesting and relevant and get back to me with tips, ideas, and comments.

Women build bridges of peace!

Emmicki Roos

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Sunday, January 22, 2012

Women News Network: "CONGO: Discussion groups help male youth work to prevent violence against women"

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