Humanitarian Relief - Change.org: Prevention of Rape in the Congo Region

Prevention of Rape in the Congo Region

This action lays out a strategy for the security of women in the Congo region from sexual violence and the increase of medical aid relief for rape victims. This action also calls for the US to pressure the UN to deploy its peacekeeping troops (MONUC) to forward the positive UN global resolution announcing mass rape as a war crime and crime against humanity.

This action was written in partnership with Heal Africa, a medical based NGO which is currently working on the ground in the Congo. Visit http://www.healafrica.org

This campaign is targeting the President of the United States, members of the US Senate and members of the US House of Representatives.
The campaign ends on Mar 18.

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1. Read & Edit Petition

Addressed To: (Targets listed above, Representatives will be selected based on your location)

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Message: Dear Representative,, As one of your constituents, I am asking for your attention and action to help PROTECT, PREVENT and RESPOND to the violence and brutal rapes of women and children in Eastern Congo. I ask you to stress the urgent need for UN (MONUC) troops to intervene to protect women from sexual violence. Protection is also needed to help guard humanitarian and local hospitals who operate as impartial, independent professionals helping displaced and wounded woman. Recently a broad coalition of Congolese women and survivor groups in eastern Congo publicly denounced rapes in the Congo. Women have already organized a large protest in Goma calling for protection against, and prevention of, further war-related rapes. As a concerned citizen, I am asking you to hear their voice and stand in active solidarity with them, demanding world leaders, and all belligerents in the DRC conflict, to act immediately to stop the violence. These actions include demonstration via concrete action and public statements reflecting the recent global commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 1820 on women, peace and security, that demands the "immediate and complete cessation by all parties to armed conflict of all acts of sexual violence against civilians" and affirming that "rape and other forms of sexual violence can constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity or a constitutive act with respect to genocide." Action must also include the deployment of UN Peacekeepers (MONUC) to protect women from gang rapes by soldiers. MONUC must intervene to stop rapes.<b> </b>This action by MONUC and the international community would directly support SR Resolution 1820 and international laws that view these war rapes as 'sexual war crimes. Of the most importance, the creation of a Sexual Violence Rapid Response Unit within MONUC’s forces in the DRC is needed to help coordinate MONUC's and the humanitarian community's timely response to rapes, including helping rape survivors to safely access emergency medical and counseling services from local aid agencies. Thank you for your leadership and for taking action to help women in Eastern Congo.

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44 Signatures Thus Far!

Misty Cameron

P.A., WA

Sent letter to Norm Dicks , Patty Murray , Maria Cantwell and George Bush
Tegan Welsch

New Berlin, WI

Sent letter to Paul Ryan , Jim Sensenbrenner , Russ Feingold , George Bush and Herb Kohl
Mriana Brinson

Springfield, MO

Sent letter to Roy Blunt , Kit Bond , Claire McCaskill and George Bush
Joshua Washburn

Elko, NV

Sent letter to Dean Heller , Harry Reid , George Bush and John Ensign
Kristy Washburn

Port Angeles, WA

Sent letter to Norm Dicks , Patty Murray , Maria Cantwell and George Bush
Robert Redmon

Dayton, OH

Sent letter to Michael Turner , Sherrod Brown , George Voinovich and George Bush
Stryker Brown Entertainment

Philadelphia, PA

Sent letter to Rob Andrews , Frank Lautenberg , Bob Menendez and George Bush
Teresa (Terry) Phipps Lane

Pittsburgh, PA

Sent letter to Mike Doyle , Arlen Specter , Bob Casey and George Bush
Charles London

Brooklyn, NY

Sent letter to Jerry Nadler , Nydia Velazquez , Yvette Clarke , Chuck Schumer , Hillary Clinton and George Bush
Vinod Bodhankar

Pune, India

Sent letter to George Bush