End Violence Against Women In DR Congo.
A war to gain control of the mines rich in ores needed to make cellphones and laptops has spawned the largest crisis of violence against women in recent history. Hundreds of thousands of women have been raped and brutalized, and hundreds more daily. It is a humanitarian crisis of staggering proportions. This petition is a respectful reminder to the Obama administration to fulfill the promise to Fight Gender Violence Abroad (http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/women/), to take steps to lessen our dependence on these ores, to forge a culture of re-use of the materials we have, and most importantly, to intervene in the most humanitarian way possible in DRC.
To become more informed, and to join the discussion on these issues, go to http://fem-men-ist.blogspot.com/2009/03/inetrnational-womens-day-end-violence.html
Photo courtesy of %uFFFD UNICEF/ HQ03-0351/Roger LeMoyne. Featured at
http://www.unicefusa.org/hidden/women-of-drc.html. Depicting Congolese women waiting for post-trauma medical attention at the Panzi Hospital in DRC.
To President Barack Obama (*or whoever is appointed to the new position to handle women's issues overseas),
We The Undersigned, Are stating our impassioned and respectful need for you to provide much needed humanitarian intervention in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A war over mines rich in ores has led to the rape of hundreds of thousands of women, and hundreds more are raped daily. This is a humanitarian crisis of massive proportions, and this petition is a reminder of your pledge to Fight Gender Violence Abroad. We are asking for humanitarian intervention in DRC, and strategies to lessen dependence on the ores being mined there. We thank you in advance, and also thank you for creating a culture of positive change and hope.
