PEACE AND SECURITY/No one speaks for me, I speak for myself
by MADELEINE BWENGE | December 7, 2012 at 9:13 AM | English translation available
Le dialogue entre le gouvernement congolais et les rebelles du M23 devrait commencer aujourd'hui à Kampala, en Ouganda.Les femmes du Nord-Kivu, regroupées autour de leur structure dénommée "FEMMES PARTISANES POUR LA PAIX" s'indignent de n'avoir pas été associée à ces négociations. Elles déplorent le fait qu'elles soient victimes de plusieurs exactions, des viols, des homicides, leurs maris tués, leurs enfants et leurs frères, leurs parents. Cependant, elles ne sont pas prises en compte losqu'il faut se rendre à la table de négociation.
Elles dénoncent cette politique qui consiste à victimiser la femme tout en l'écartant lorsqu'il s'agit de dialoguer. Selon elles, elles sonr prêtes à aller parler d'elles mêmes et non pas attendre que les autres puissent parler d'elles à leurs absence.
Nous estimons que si un peuple tient à asseoir la Paix, les femmes ne doivent pas être écartées du processus.
English translation by PulseWire member Celya
The dialogue between the Congolese Government and the M23 rebels should have started today in Kampala, Uganda. Women from North Kivu, grouped in their structure called "Women partisans for peace" resented the fact that they were not associated with these negotiations. They deplore the fact that they are victims of various abuses, rapes, killing of their husbands, children, brothers and parents. However, they are not taken into account when it is about negotiation discussion tables.
They denounce this politic that victimizes women and excludes them from dialogue. Women are ready to go speak for themselves and not hear some other people speak about them in their absence.
We believe that if a nation wants to establish peace, women should not be excluded from the process.
This story was written for World Pulse’s Ending Violence Against Women Digital Action Campaign.
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Comments
Mreci Madeleine et courage
Chère Madeleine,
C'est révoltant de voir que les femmes continuent d’être presque totalement ignorées lorsqu’il s'agit de négociations et pourtant elles ne sont pas protégées en temps de conflit.
Je t'encourage d’écrire et partager plus sur ce qui se passe. Comment vas-tu en ce moment? Est qu’il y a eu des changements positifs jusque là?
Bien à toi, Cecile
Cecile
Translation
The dialogue between the Congolese Government and the M23 rebels should have started today in Kampala, Uganda. Women from North Kivu, grouped in their structure called "Women partisans for peace" resented the fact that they were not associated with these negotiations. They deplore the fact that they are victims of various abuses, rapes, killing of their husbands, children, brothers and parents. However, they are not taken into account when it is about negotiation discussion tables.
They denounce this politic that victimizes women and excludes them from dialogue. Women are ready to go speak for themselves and not hear some other people speak about them in their absence.
We believe that if a nation wants to establish peace, women should not be excluded from the process.
Cecile