Oxfam America's report; the worst place on earth to be a woman

The Greatest Silence; Rape in the Congo


Enormous HAT TIP to Border Explorer who mentioned it in a comment on the post Rape and the Spoils of War (see Wednesday's post);

"This came in yesterday from Oxfam America & I thought it fit here:

The worst place on earth to be a woman?

The Democratic Republic of Congo.

Help change the situation: contact President-Elect Obama TODAY.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is host to the world’s deadliest conflict since World War II.

And women and girls have borne the brunt of this horrific crisis, with rape as a weapon of war on a scale seen nowhere else in the world.

But you can do something about it.

Tell President-Elect Obama to announce his plan to end sexual violence in Congo.

photo from Humanitarian Relief - Michael Bear Kleinman, aid worker, lawyer, and consultant with experience working in Afghanistan, across east and central Africa, and Iraq.

Eastern Congo is the worst place in the world to be a woman in 2008. Rape and sexual violence are routinely used as a weapon to destroy women, families, and communities. It is time to get serious about ending the conflict and protecting and empowering Congo’s women.

The US government is in a unique position to take action immediately. They can promote peace through aggressive diplomatic efforts, increase UN patrols and support organizations that help keep women safe, and work to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

Oxfam America has joined with the RAISE Hope for Congo campaign to raise awareness about the crisis. And by adding your voice, you are helping to raise awareness about the horrors of this nine-year conflict.

Tell the president-elect to announce his plan to end the vicious cycle of sexual violence."

SIGN THE RAISE HOPE FOR CONGO PETITION TO THE PRESIDENT!

I just did.