In June 2023, a collaboration between Repro Justice Congo and Women Power DRC undertook a transformative mission to bring to light the untold stories of displaced women and girls living in the Bulengo and Kanyarucinya camps in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This groundbreaking initiative aimed not only to create a safe space where these women could break their silence, but also to shed light on their daily struggles and needs.
Venturing into the heart of adversity, the courageous team took on the challenge of encouraging women and girls, who had endured the horrors of violence, to share their stories. These accounts revealed widespread threats of rape, sexual exploitation, gender-based violence, unsafe abortions, unassisted childbirth, limited access to HIV services, and pervasive period poverty.
Unfazed by the sheer scale of these stories, the teams conducted over a hundred interviews, weaving the resilience and hope of these survivors into a powerful narrative captured in the booklet titled “Stories of Resilience and Hope for Displaced Women Who Have Survived Sexual Violence in Eastern DRC.” ” These stories poignantly highlighted the profound struggles these women have faced in accessing vital sexual and reproductive health information and services, which are linked to their fundamental rights.
Following this poignant collection of stories, a strategic advocacy meeting was held, drawing the attention of local and provincial authorities. During this transformative session, the findings and recommendations were presented, giving displaced women and girls a voice. Their voices resonated, calling on the government to implement measures to improve their situation, particularly in the area of sexual and reproductive health.
During the meeting, participants passionately expressed their concerns, urging the government to take immediate action to ensure the safety of women and girls in displacement camps. This call aimed to mitigate the sexual violence and exploitation ravaging their lives while advocating for access to crucial sexual and reproductive health information and services. A pressing issue emerged during the discussions—limited access to safe abortion. Stigma and financial barriers were identified as the driving forces pushing women and girls to resort to unsafe abortion practices, thereby putting their lives at risk. The need for urgent action to dismantle these barriers became a rallying cry, urging the government to prioritize the well-being and rights of these resilient survivors.
In the wake of this advocacy meeting, a new chapter is unfolding in the story of displaced women in eastern DRC. The rallying cry “Rising Resilience” echoes through the camps as these women and girls stand united, hopeful, and empowered, knowing that their voices have become a force for change.
