AFRICA/RD CONGO - WOMEN FIRST VICTIMS OF WAR AND FIRST AGENTS OF PEACE: THE ACTIVITY OF A CATHOLIC CENTRE FOR RESEARCH AND SUPPORT FOR PEACE INITIATIVES IN LUBUMBASHI SOUTHERN CONGO

Wednesday, 10 December 2003

Kinshasa (Fides Service) - Women and children are always the first victims of war, exposed to all sort of violence from all sides. Among the wars where women are seriously affected, the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Nevertheless women, as the first educators of their children, have a fundamental role for promoting a culture of peace.
To involve women in the promotion of a culture of peace and non violence, in 2001 a Centre for Research and Support for Peace Initiatives CRAIP was opened in Lubumbashi, southern Congo. CRAIP is affiliated with the Maria Malkia Spirituality Centre directed by Consolata Sister Marie-Bernard Alima. Recently CRAIP organised a Peace Week attended by over 300 women representing 100 organisations in Rwanda, Burundi, Canada, Italy, Zambia, Senegal as well as various parts of Congo, Kinshasa, East Province, South Kivu, North Kivu, Katanga.
A recent CRAIP Information Bulletin sent to Fides gives a description of the tragic situation in the country: “The Democratic Republic of Congo has been at war since 1998 for essentially economic reasons. The war has led to the occupation of territory by 12 armed groups with different motivations. It has caused the deaths of 4 people, that is four times the number of victims in the Rwandan genocide, more than 6500 times the September 11th attack. The economic situation is catastrophic the average daily income is 0.2 US dollars, corruption is widespread, the army is detested and feared, the health situation is a serious threat for the future as is the total absence of education policies. Satisfying selfish desires prevails over the search for the common good leading to instability, rebellion and violence ”.
To obtain authentic peace for Congo, the Centre proposes: formation programmes for education to peace; participation of women in peace initiatives through non-violence as taught by the Gospel; increase collaboration with NGOs working for peace; offer reflections on the question of peace; foster a female leadership in the family domestic Church.
This year the centre offered a formation and promotion Course for Women dedicated to Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Nobel peace prize winner 1979, which aimed to help women develop leadership qualities teaching them techniques of mediation and negotiation and how to promote a woman’s view of peace, democracy and politics. The course lasted nine months. Subjects studied included: good government; education to pace (domination of violent reactions and develop the logic of forgiveness); peaceful solutions to conflict (encourage tolerance and forgiveness); overcoming gender differences (eliminating illiteracy among women by promoting primary instruction).
CRAIP also started an Amani women’s network for lasting peace and to create synergy with all programmes promoted by women in the province.
In April 2004 there will be a Conference of Women in the Great Lakes Region associated with the Great Lakes Conference promoted by the United Nations. (L.M.) (Fides Service 10/12/2003 lines 43 words 504)


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