Half the Sky

Considering that DR Congo is one of the most dangerous places to be a woman, I was completely floored by how many women walk the streets alone, at night. On our way into DR Congo from Rwanda the other night, there were women everywhere; loaded down with items from a day of buying and selling in the market or farming. Some were walking in small groups, others walked utterly alone. Often, even if a woman is attacked at night, she won’t tell her husband for fear of being banished from the household and larger community. There is such shame attached to rape, and it seems as though families abandon daughters and mothers in their time of greatest need. Despite the risks, life must continue – women and girls must perform their household and maternal duties; going to market, planting and harvesting crops, collecting firewood and water and often traveling great distances to do so.

Most recently in an area in South Kivu where we have been doing water and health projects, it has been reported that a large number of women have been attacked and raped during the night. Since we have been here the government military (FADRC) have been shifting their posts around and thus, leaving communities unprotected and exposed to other militia groups. Look at today's BBC news article on this far too common and devastating story in DRC -(Click here)

It is difficult to work in the Congo and not touch this issue. Both of us are working on sexual based violence issues since we have arrived. For instance, we will be supporting events with Silent No More project that Tearfund has helped launch out of a report they did on sexual violence. Out of this report launched an international pledge to end sexual violence. We will update you more on the Silent No More future events for DRC. Click here to find out more about the Silent No More Report.

Also, there is a wonderful book called ‘Half the Sky’ which highlights women’s issues in the developing word. Highly recommend this book. The book’s title refers to a traditional proverb that asserts ‘women hold up half the sky’ – basically highlighting the fact that women in the developing world (and indeed in the developed world) bear many burdens and perform duties that go largely unnoticed. If women were to not show up for work one day, for instance, the result would be that the sky would cave in. In DR Congo at least, women hold up more than half the sky.