Congo Rape Action Event - October 6th, 6 p.m. - To develop our action strategy for WILPF NY Metro's Project Congo.

The meeting will be held at the 1199 SEIU Union Hall, Bread and Roses Gallery, 310 W. 43rd St. (bet. 8th & 9th Aves.) Take the A, C, E, 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, B, D, F, V, N, Q, R, or W to 42nd Street. Come hear Bibiane Tshefu speak about the situation in Congo and see assorted clips from films about Congo, some of which are part of WILPF's NY Metro's Trudy Orris Film Series.

Trudy Orris Media Fund Film Series

The WILPF New York Metro branch has been hosting film screenings underwritten by the Trudy Orris Media Fund. These documentaries examine the lives of rape victims of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where the struggles of warfare have plagued the area and militia have used rape as a weapon of war against hundreds of thousands of women. At the screenings, Congolese activist and WILPF Metro member, Bibiane Tshefu, shared with us the influence of the multinational corporations (MNCs) on the community. Molly Klopot, our current chair, leafleted at The Human Rights Film Festival and spoke directly to one of the filmmakers, Lisa F. Jackson, who recommended we contact groups also working to end the violence in DRC.

Members of the audience felt angered that surrounding countries were perpetrating violence against their neighbors and longed to see unity among local communities. In our own country, we need to fight back against the media blackout and demand the attention of these dishonorable companies by raising awareness of the MNCs' abuse of human rights.

From the viewers also came a call to arm the women in danger. The idea of potentially wounding an attacker brought up the age-old question, "Do two wrongs ever make a right?". WILPFers were disinclined to support such a violent idea. Nonetheless, the city center in Goma, DRC, holds self-defense classes for thousands of participants on Saturday mornings. Alas, this does not extend to the numerous rural areas where a lot of the violence occurs.

The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo, by Lisa F. Jackson, is a horrific journey to the source of the problem. The audience heard personal accounts of victims counter balanced by interviews with various militia members responsible for the rapes. They also learned more about how the MNCs are stealing valuable resources from the DRC. Lumo, by Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt and Nelson Walker III, followed the recovery of a young female rape victim as she underwent multiple surgeries and became part of the community at a hospital near the Rwandan border. Following the show, the two filmmakers presented their personal stories and updates on Lumo’s life.

Audience members were curious about the work of HEAL Africa, the hospital featured in Lumo, where hundreds of women undergo on average two to three surgeries to repair their internal injuries. The women are strictly confined to their beds while they wait for their bodies to heal, and cannot return to their villages or even get up to move around until weeks later. (For more information about HEAL Africa, visit www.healafrica.org.)

Mr. Perlmutt and Mr. Walker acknowledged WILPF for framing the issue as a Human Rights problem, saying that it had been the best follow-up discussion they had been a part of. They were thankful not to have to defend themselves against the criticism they often receive for being men documenting an issue their gender is "responsible" for.

If you would like to host a screening of The Greatest Silence or Lumo in your home or local community center near you, WILPF is available to bring the film and the equipment as well as facilitate a discussion to help spread the word in your neighborhood. Feel free to contact us at (212) 533-2125. For more ideas about what you can do to end violence in the Congo, visit our Project Congo section of the Metro website.

WILPF is Building the Beloved Community by seeking to understand and address racism and discrimination in our society. Discussion about these issues is crucial to finding a viable solution. Add your voice and reason to the conversation.

WILPF is Challenging Corporate Power through education beginning with a six-week course developed by WILPF, which is being held across the world. A course will be held this summer. Call the WILPF New York Metro office to enroll.

WILPF is Disarming The War Economy by linking the effect of the for-profit war machine on our day-to-day lives. With the Raging Grannies and through song, art and satire we work to bring the immoral cost of the Iraq occupation home.