So No to Conflict Minerals

HI Folks, As I’ve shared many times over, conflict minerals (i.e. your cell phone/laptop/ipod, etc) are fueling conflict here in the DRC. Please do your part by telling electronics companies that you aren’t interested in fueling wars and sexual violence. Peace, Miel

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MONUC leaving DRC

UN discussing DR Congo withdrawal The UN has begun talks with Democratic Republic of Congo on withdrawing its peacekeeping mission – the biggest UN operation in the world. UN peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy said his officials would take a month to assess how the pullout of 20,500 personnel could be carried out. The current…

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United Nations Teaches DRC Women to Tackle Rape

United Nations Teaches Democratic Republic of Congo Women to Tackle RapeAFP, 15 February 2010Five goats and some money used to be the price to forget an act of rape in the southeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo, but United Nations staff are telling women they can now go to court.See: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iaDaospuwPcNfckOcxA39txBC3jA

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Learn More about DR Congo

People are finally listening about what is happening in Congo. Whether it be from signing up to receive blogs like this, whimsical stories about heroes and hope, or documentaries that make you learn more. Listen, and learn more. There are people every day who do good work. Some who capture your heart or make you…

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Impunity

Impunity is something that is mentioned often when discussing the issue of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is thrown around at Congressional hearings and discussed at round tables of well-meaning NGO types like myself. According to the dictionary, it means: 1. exemption from punishment. 2. immunity from detrimental effects, as of…

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Wild West of Congo – Orientale Province

When we arrived in Kinsangani, Orientale Province of DRC, it was clear right away that things were different. The city reminded me immediately of Kinshasa and Bujumbura, with its wide boulevards and colonial feel. In fact, the city feels as though it never left the colonial era. Most of the buildings date back to the…

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Welcome to Liberia

As I awaken from my groggy slumber I realize just how close we are. The plane banks to the right and I see the expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, with white sandy beaches punctuating the coast line. The rest is lush jungle and rainforest. Touch down. Country number fifty. The landing is smooth and the…

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Clinton in Congo

I’m excited to report about Hillary Clinton’s recent trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo. She has pledged an additional $17 Million in funds to help address sexual violence in eastern DRC. Obviously from my past posts, this is an issue that is close to my heart. I’m very glad to see that momentum is…

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Nightmare

I talked with my grandmother last night and she was proud of the work that I am doing. She said that she had talked to her friends about my last post, and reflected on her own experience with sexual violence as a method of control back in 1950s’ Haiti. She urged me to keep up…

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Sexual Violence in DR Congo

There is a topic that is dear to my heart that I have been thinking about writing about for some time. It is a far too silent epidemic that has ravaged the lives of countless women around the globe, but particularly in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. It is an epidemic of rape and horror,…

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