Ignited by the zeal and determination of our senior liaison, Marie de Paul Combo, SL, the NGO Liaisons attending the Annual Meeting of the Charity Federation in Charleston, SC were reminded of the epidemic proportions of rape and other atrocities forced upon the women in DR Congo, emanating in large part from the extractive industry. Liaisons were invited to further action. Caroljean Willie, the Federation’s Main NGO Representative, had addressed this issue in the February 2011 publication, The United Nations and You.

“Mass atrocities continue to persist in eastern Congo as myriad armed groups, including the Congolese national army, battle for control over natural resource reserves and prey off local populations. This ongoing war is exacerbating regional instability, giving rise to some of the most heinous violence and sexual abuse in human history, and displacing hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians.” (The United Nations and You, February 2011)

Marie de Paul and Faith Colligan, DC, have been in contact with Sister Jane Quinlan, OSU and Sister Isabelle Izika, SNdeN, both of whom are in frequent contact with community and family in the DRC.

Recently, Sister Deodata Bunzigiye, OSU and member of the Urslines in the DRC was invited to the UN General Assembly for the interactive hearings on, “Sustainable Development and Promoting Good Governance in the Least Developed Countries.” Sister is the foundress and coordinator of Alpha Ujuvi an organization which supports vulnerable children, in particular survivors of sexual violence, orphans, abandoned children and children with HIV and AIDS. Alpha Ujuvi is supported by UNICEF, UNDP, ActionAid, and UNFPA in Goma, DRC. Sister Deodata gave a brief overview of her ministry and the situation in her country at the April Meeting of the Religious at the United Nations (RUN).

Sister Isabelle Izika, also a DRC native, interned with the Sisters of Notre Dame NGO at United Nations New York. In a brief communication Sister Isabelle proposed that those of us at the UN might garner support for fair and just elections that are scheduled to take place in November 2011. It is her belief that a change in government is of utmost importance if positive change is to happen in DRC. She sees government and military working together in the escalation of violence and unrest, especially in the case of violence against women.

After a moment of prayer for the people of the DRC, the liaisons agreed upon a simple first action step. Sister Jane had mentioned that the women like to wear fancy scarves which they use as head scarves. We thought it a colorful, feminine action to collect pretty scarves for the women to wear. This July Sister Jane will take with her to the Congo some of the scarves from their Sisters in the United States. This will let the women in DRC know that we are in solidarity with them. Please watch for information about the way the scarf collection will happen in your community. Below is the prayer for the people of Congo. More to follow. (Faith Colligan, DC)

“Christ our Peace, our hearts are heavy with grief as we hear of the sufferings of our sisters and brothers in the Democratic Republic of Congo who suffer again from armed conflicts which destroy the peace, safety and very existence of hundreds of thousands of your children. May our hearts and those of all involved in these conflicts heed the words “no more war” and choose instead to work together for a just society where all share in the many gifts of nature and ethnic richness of the Congolese nation. Inspire and move our hearts and minds to act for peace and justice, calling others to be peacemakers and helpers in responding to the needs of the people of Congo. We ask thin in your name and through your befriending Spirit.” Amen.
(www.educationforjustice.org)