Women and Congo: When We Are Together, We Are Strong
Posted by Katie Smith on Jul 22, 2013
Neema and women's rights activists at the 20th African Union Summit
Congolese human rights activist Neema Namadamu and her fellow Maman
Shujaa (‘Hero Women’ in Swahili) work to show the resilience and
importance of women in Congo who live in an environment that is
violently oppressive to women. Namadamu’s call to influential women
around the world helped lead to the appointment of U.N. Special Envoy
Mary Robinson and U.S. Special Envoy Russ Feingold. These two major
appointments are significant steps towards creating a lasting peace in
the Great Lakes region.
On July 11, Namadamu met Mary Robinson at the Regional Conference on
Women, Peace, Security and Development in the Great Lakes region in
Bujumbura, Burundi marking a historic turning-point towards the
protection of women in eastern Congo. The two leaders discussed the
importance of the inclusion and empowerment of women towards achieving
sustainable peace in Congo. The need for women to act for women is
clear, particularly in the words Namadamu said to the assembly:
“We have a chance. Our special envoy is a powerful woman, and
women know how to stand together and support one another. We are ‘for’
one another. We are family. We are community.”
This renewed call for global sisterhood is an extension from the
campaign for U.S. Special Envoy Russ Feingold’s appointment. In
response to the fall of Goma to M23 rebels in November 2012, Namadamu
and the Maman Shujaa said Enough! Enough to living in fear, to
worrying about being raped, to losing sons and husbands to war, to the
destruction of their homes, and to short-sighted political solutions.
Together they initiated a petition on Change.org addressed to the
women leaders in the White House from the women leaders in Congo.
“Even in remote Congo we have become connected to our global
sisterhood. We who are one with the 35 million+ women of the DRC, who
are one with the 3.5 billion+ women of the world, are standing for an
end to all violence and aggression in Eastern DRC.”
The petition called for women, particularly those in positions of
power, to act on behalf of their sisters in Congo by appointing an
envoy dedicated to inclusive and comprehensive peace, emphasizing the
essential role women play in this process. The petition quickly gained
over 108,000 signatures.
Actor and activist, Robin Wright, on behalf of the Maman Shujaa and
along with Raise Hope for Congo Campaign Manager JD Stier delivered
Neema’s petition to the White House in January 2013. The recognition
that electronics she used daily were directly fueling rape and war in
Congo inspired Robin Wright to act as a megaphone for the voices of
Congolese women. Through interviews and op-eds with the Raise Hope for
Congo campaign, tireless support from activists, and the continued
dedication of Namadamuand Maman Shujaa, Secretary Kerry appointed U.S.
Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region,Russ Feingold. Together with
U.N. Special Envoy Mary Robinson they can drive change by addressing
the drivers of war.
Wartime sexual violence is not specific to Congo. Recent statements by
the Japanese government illustrate how global leaders still do not
truly appreciate female exploitation in times of war. Empathetic to
the grievances of these ‘Comfort Women,’ Namadamu and the Maman Shujaa
created a short film expressing their solidarity with women from South
Korea. As the petition states, there is a network of women around the
world who need to act on each other's behalf, to protect one another
from the crimes of sexual violence. The abuse of women creates
lingering trauma in communities around the world, and as such they
call the international community to recognize sexual violence as a
crime against humanity.
Global outreach by women to women and men has helped accomplish the
appointments of Russ Feingold and Mary Robinson. Now, Special Envoys
Feingold and Robinson can utilize this local and global network of
women to help promote democratic governance dedicated to the
protection of its citizens, through a comprehensive peace process. By
incorporating women like the Maman Shujaa into strategic peacebuilding
initiatives, Special Envoys Feingold and Robinson can help promote a
peace agenda inclusive to the needs of those marginalized by Congo’s
war.
Photo: Women's rights activists and leaders at the 20th African Union Summit
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