2010 GFW Speaker Series

A Story Less Heard: Congo

Muadi Mukenge, GFW Program Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, recently led an eye-opening discussion of the root causes of the ongoing conflict in the Congo, and how women are challenging the system.

Driven by global demand for its natural resources, the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been ravaged by war for more than a decade. Against this backdrop, the women’s movement has worked relentlessly to hold communities together and challenge systemic gender violence. Women’s rights advocates face immense risks as they organize to expose corruption, environmental degradation, denounce military attacks, run schools in conflict zones and obtain justice for rape survivors.

The Global Fund for Women has supported women’s groups in the DRC since 2004. Drawing from her upcoming DRC report, Muadi Mukenge highlights the policy and advocacy recommendations necessary to build sustainable peace in DRC and other Central Africa conflict zones.

Listen to the podcast of the discussion led by Muadi Mukenge. (57 minutes)

Multimedia resources on the Congo:

• Raise Hope for Congo
• Congo's Tin Soldiers