top of page

SEXUAL &

GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

The future of Congo is these women. These women need your solidarity.

- Nobel Peace Prize Winner & Founder of Panzi Hospital, Dr. Denis Mukwege

THE EVIDENCE

The Democratic Republic of Congo, home to over 70 million people, is a country of incredible beauty and opportunity. However, Congo is also the site of the most deadly conflict since World War II, with over 5.4 million people having died since 1998. Congo frequently ranks near the bottom in UN Human Development Indicators and highest in rates of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV); over 1.7 million women in Congo are survivors of rape. SGBV is used as a weapon of war against infants, elders, and entire communities.

 

Violence is exacerbated by mining exploitation, a lucrative funding source for armed groups in the east and corrupt actors around the globe. As Nobel Peace Prize winner and founder of Panzi Hospital Dr. Denis Mukwege explains, “It is a war over Congo’s resources”, but “the time has come to transform conflict minerals into minerals for development and peace.”

TAKE ACTION

#standwithcongo

#StandWithCongo is an international human rights campaign for transparency in Congo mining. They work closely with communities across the world to take collective action against SGBV and minerals for peace. You can request a free Screening4Action of their award-winning documentary When Elephants Fight, narrated by Robin Wright (House of Cards): StandWithCongo.org/Request-a-Screening

bottom of page