Ugandan Women Activists Share Knowledge about the LRA, Sex Slavery, Justice and more

From the 13th to the 17th of November

thirteen Congolese organisations

gathered through Women's initiatives for Gender Justice

Eastern RDC, took part to the International

Women March in Bukavu. They do expess through

this video, their call for action, against gender violences

Claudine Bela - CERDF Coordinator- Kisangani

Eastern province representative

We're coming here, from North and South Kivu,

North Katanga districts, in the Eastern province,

in order to exchange with our worldwide colleagues,

about problems faced by women around four main

themes: peace, demilitarization, common wealth

and violences.

Each day, sexual violence cases are registred

in the four main districts of the Eastern province:

High Zuele, Low zuele, Itouri and Chopo. Women and

young maids are daily victims of rapes.

An atmosphear of insecurity spreads, due to

LRA activists, Ougandan rebel armed groups,

which has settled in Congolese Low and High Zuele.

Those groups are responsible for many atrocities,

and of a displacement of population at a large scale.

People have been obliged to flee to others towns

so that it has became highly difficult for us,

to be able to take care of victims of sexual violences.

They remain where they are, without any relief.

It is what we're actually facing.

Several others groups has settled in the

Eastern province: The Maï Maï, Anitouri armed

groups, and the ADF Nalou located in North Kivu.

Each case of violence registred there, proves

that insecurity is such, that it is impossible

to moove safely and freely, through the province,

without meeting those bandits. We have denouced

those facts frequently, but no real solution

has been found.

Our victims are suffering, those having fistulas

can't be helped, due to the scarceness of means

which doesn't allow us to take care of evryone.

Most of the ONG working here, are closing,

we don't know what will became of those victims.

We have to face another kind of problem

at a judiciary level. Trials are organised,

judgements passed, and then nothing occures.

Consequently, victims remain exposed to possible

exactions from their previous agressor.

This is why we came here and are taking part

to the International Women March,

aiming at witnessing of what occures

in the Congolese Eastern province.

which is actually totaly forgotten in both

national and international speeches, while

others provinces are taken into account.

It is as if those denouncing LRA's activities

should be silenced, and the northern province

weren't peopled by Congolese. This, shocks

and offends us. That's the reason why we came here

in order to be heard by all those having the

willingness to help the eastern province,

and so that they'll be able to witness

of what happens here.

We want that justice should be done;

All those having commited violences will have

to be prosecuted, and have to respond charges

in front of competent juridiction,

should it be nationonal or international.

Emerite Tabisha Mongelwa - AFD Coordinator

Uvira-Fizi /South Kivu province representative

We noticed that each time an international event

takes place in the country, showing external

implication, it has a great impact.

An international presence in our province,

will move our leaders and those ruled by them,

and will be positive for the women cause, here.

All the most, law exists, but isn't applied.

Chantal Malumbi Faila - SOFEDI coordinator

Kalemie /Katanga province representative

since last year, upon 194 cases being held to justice

only 44 gave way to a jugement, but none victim

has recovered damages, since liables can afford

to corrupt those who should arrest them.

They are wandering freely and aren't worried.

That's why we're obliged to settle victims

especially those rejected,

in families welcoming them. But those families are

living in poverty and are hardly able to feed victims.

The main problem is then from economical order, and

have to be solved through victims'economical rehabilitation.

by mean of a salary gotten, enabling them to

get out of poverty, while we're helping them

on their way back to recover joy and dignity.

It's very difficult actually.

In order to fight impunity, we need to be backed,

so that we could hire lawyers services, pay

justice charges and reduce procedure delays.

Damages have to be recovered.

We are facing two kinds of problems:

The victim's economical support,

and at judiciary level, the sentence of liables.

As far as I'm concerned, it is with great hopes that

I do take part to the march. We are meeting there

many decision makers, sponsors, authorities

at high level. We came in order to give voice to

the women 's cause at an international level.

This synergy will make it possible to solve problems

We have to do it all together.

We do hope that the march will have concrete

positive results and will make women, sponsors

as well as national authorities undergo the step

from theory to action. All have to be implicated,

in order that women's voice could be heard

in order that justice should pevail and

equality of chances should be real, and our action

made visible through this march In Congo.

Joséphine Mlimukono - LSC coordinator -

Goma - North Kivu province representative

We came here in Bukavu, aiming at exchanging

and gain knowledge, about all actions undertaken

worlwide, against violence.

We haven't yet organised for our own part,

any specific action, but our participation to the march

will increase our knowledge, help us share

others'worlwide experiences and actions

and will enable us to make their strategies

our own in order to fight poverty, here.

in order that women take themselves in hand, and

so that we could find efficient lasting strategies,

to put an end to gender violences.

The organisations making part of Women's Initiatives

are asking :

the instant cessation of gender violences

that liables of violences should be judged

That women make part of the decision-making proceedings

This video has been made by Women's Initiatives organisations trained by witness, using video in human rights defence.