Innocent Chia
Citizen Journalist
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By Innocent Chia
There are 48 women that are getting raped within the hour, every hour, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) even as the World celebrates International Women’s Day. Indeed, ‘the Show must go on’, the saying goes in the theatrical world. And the DRC is definitely a War theater where not only are rules not respected, the rule makers - International Community – and its Press have turned a blind eye to what Human Rights organizations across the board rate as the worst humanitarian crisis of our life time.
At the beginning of this year I was co-opted by a group of ladies that are scattered across North America. Their mission is to keep reminding the World that it cannot be OK to watch on as resource-looting soldiers from neighboring Rwanda and Uganda continue using rape on women as weapons of war, in lieu of bullets from the barrel of their guns to kill their targets.
This is part of the message of Dunia Magazine, organizers of the March 23rd Walk in Atlanta, and the Women, as contained in the following Press Release, need your help to stop the cycle of abuse and violence.
One Million Women… One Voice… One LOVE for the mothers, sisters and children of CongoAtlanta, GA … February 24, 2013
A
million women will be descending upon Atlanta on the 23rd of March,
2013, for the Million Woman Walk for Congo. The initiative by Atlanta’s
multicultural publication, Dunia Magazine, is geared at resuscitating
international attention to what has been dubbed ‘Africa’s Forgotten War’
and the World’s greatest humanitarian crisis.
The mile-long walk that will be culminating with events at the Atlanta Convention Center at AmericasMart in Downtown Atlanta, GA has been receiving massive support from humanitarian organizations, human rights groups and churches across denominations. Women across North America, as well as groups of women from the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), are registered to fly into Atlanta for this first-of-a-kind collaborative experience on the Congo by women.
Special committees have been meeting face to face and via phone conferences, planning towards the walk and post-walk operations. There is a special focus on projects that will attend to the needs of the most vulnerable afflicted – the women and children who are bearing the brunt of the barbarism. According to documented studies and reports by human rights organizations, there are some 48 women who are raped by the hour in the DRC.
The war for the resource-rich land in the heart of Africa has decimated over 6 million Congolese lives in the last decade alone. Belligerent factions have shown no respect for International rules of war and are continuing to do so with impunity from the International Community. Is it because it is Africa that the international press and world leaders are turning a blind eye?
In partnership with a host of organizations all listed on www.duniawomenwalk.org/partners/ every conscionable person is invited to lend their support in creating even greater awareness. It is a moral call to walk and to say NO to the rape of Congolese women and women in other parts of the world. It is an invitation to join the walk and say NO to innocent children being turned into child soldiers in the Congo. It is a call to say YES to the walk on March 23rd at the Atlanta Convention Center at AmericasMart (in downtown, Atlanta). Address: 240 Peachtree St NW #2200, Atlanta, GA 30303 (Building 2 West Wing).
About DUNIA Magazine
DUNIA Magazine is a people, culture and lifestyle magazine based in
Atlanta, GA. Our tagline is that we are “The Reader’s Magazine” bringing
together people across different cultural backgrounds to talk about
what makes them different, yet the same as you and I. The premise at
DUNIA, which means “World” in Swahili, is that a little understanding of
where we each come from culturally, breeds understanding in our
communities. Our readership is international and multi-cultural. http://www.duniamagazine.com. Twitter: www.twitter.com/duniamagazine. Facebook: www.facebook.com/DUNIAMagazine
Source: DUNIA Magazine
Contact: Lema Abeng-Nsah, [email protected], 1- 678-632-3118
Web site: www.duniawomenwalk.org
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How you can get involved:
- Attend conference calls for updates (every Tuesday and Friday at 9PM EST: Dial-in tel: (218)-548-4689 PIN: 142893#)
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Related articles:
- War in the Heart of Africa: Congo on its knees as Women & Children continue to pay the highest Price
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