WOMEN of the CONGO


ph: 917-518-3476

Who We Are

We are mothers, sisters, bankers, doctors, writers, photographers, lawyers, chefs, marketers, photographers, entrepreneurs, traders, accountants, teachers, brokers, actors, editors and artists. We live in Westchester, Manhattan, Long Island and Connecticut. We are not fund raisers, professional party planners, or political activists, but we have all been moved by headlines to realize that with knowledge comes a choice: to sit on the sidelines and watch, or to take action about something that moves you. For us, that something is the horrific plight of women and girls in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  • We believe that we can no longer turn away in horror, but must raise our voices in defense of these women who struggle daily to protect themselves and their children from unspeakable atrocities.
  • We believe there can be no peaceful future for the Congo as long as its mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and daughters are subject to these dehumanizing crimes.

We believe that by standing together, we can make a difference. We passionately believe we must make a difference.

After the 2008 Women of the Congo benefit our group of friends was invited to attend the June 18th  United Nations Security Council debate on Women, Peace and Security. The Security Council demanded that all sides to armed conflicts around the world stop using violence against women as a tactic of war and take much tougher steps to protect women and girls from such attacks. The resolution was adopted unanimously




photography courtesty of Stefy Hilmer

Planning Committee

Aimée Brady, Stacey Breckling, Margaret Caron, Katie Carron, Jennifer Chalsen, Julie Chang, Kirsten Cleary, Young-Yi Clinton, Jennifer Crossland, Michelle Foligno, Jennifer Friedman, Kulsoom Gul, Stefy Hilmer, Amy Hochhauser, Natalie Horton, Ana Jovancicev, Catherine Kelley, Sharon Kim, Amelie Kraus, Sarah LeBuhn, Joanne Lee, Heather Miller, Andrea Moglia, Catherine Mugo, Jane Nadasi, Mary Nangah, Jennifer Oakes, Kelli O'Donnell, Susannah Owen, Alison Pack, Andrea Perrone, Virginia Reynolds, Tristin Rumack, Tanya Scholl, Orit Small, Keira Smith, Jessica Suh, Tara Taylor, Janine Thompson, Lisa Von Redden, Allison Waguespack, Sarah Wynter, Jarret Yoshida, Jennifer Williams


Roundtable held at the United Nations.  (scroll down to see pictures)

On April 9th, 2008 we participated in a briefing at United Nations HQ on the topic of the Congo Crisis.  HBO kindly made it possible to have Bernard Kalume and Major Honorine Munyolesikuja, two of the the subjects in Lisa Jackson's film, discuss what they view as the causes of the violence and what steps must be taken to bring these women justice.

The panelists, who shared their stories and answered questions about their work with survivors included:

  • Kate Burns, Senior Policy Officer, Gender Equality, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
  • Nancee Oku Bright, Chief of Staff, United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic
  • Lisa F. Jackson, Director of "The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo"  
  • Steven O. Malley, Chief of Africa I, OCHA
  • Erin Kenny, GBV Specialist, United Nations Population Fund 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


ph: 917-518-3476