project - Congo

Breaking through stigmas and taboos around sexual violence

Breaking through taboos and stigmas about sexual violence. Generating debates by showing films and facilitating debates to address taboos and stigmas.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo witnessed the deadliest conflict ever recorded in Africa during which hundreds of thousand women and girls were raped. Only now that the conflict is stabilised are the consequences of the brutality becoming visible. Rape is slowly seeping into everyday life. Rape survivors are struggling to carry on in a society where rape is a taboo and where family, friends and neighbours prefer to blame them rather than to prosecute their rapists.

Since September 2008, the mobile cinema project in eastern Congo has been educating communities about sexual violence by showing an adapted version of the IFPRODUCTIONS documentary ‘Fighting the Silence’ in public places, followed by a debate. Survivors testify in the film about how rape impacted their lives. They give voice to thousands of other survivors and their families who have chosen to hide their grief and remain silent for fear of being rejected. Over 600.000 people have been reached by this project which is implemented by Search for Common Ground and Amnesty International Netherlands.

project - Congo

Campaigning against Impunity

To address and bring a halt to the impunity that is widespread in Congo’s justice system by means of a nation-wide campaign.
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project - Congo

Fighting sexual violence in the army

Educating soldiers of Congo’s National Army that rape is a crime with devastating consequences for their victims, society and themselves.
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