"Still No News on the Congo?" Public event on sexual and gender based violence in DRC

"Still no news on Congo?" is a public event on sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that has been conceived by Amnesty International, Doctors of the World UK and the APPG on the Great Lakes Region of Africa. 

Despite the fact that appalling violence against women continues as a strategic weapon in the economic conflict in the Eastern region of DRC - the media is almost silent and the British public are largely unaware of the situation.

The event, chaired by Eric Joyce MP, questions why there is ‘no news' on Congo and demonstrates that writers, journalists and photographers are finding new ways to re-invent the devastation faced by Congo in order to engage new audiences.

An exhibition followed by a perfomance

The event will feature photographs from award-winning photographer Andrew McConnell, in collaboration with Doctors of the World UK, whose heart-rending portraits of sexual violence survivors from DRC display incredible nobility and fortitude.

The event will also feature the award-winning writer Lynn Nottage whose play 'Ruined' opens at the Almeida Theatre in April. We expect Lynn to be accompanied by at least one member of the cast to perform an extract from the play. (Please see below for more information about ‘Ruined'). Lynn Nottage developed the idea of the play when working for Amnesty International on testimonials from women in the DRC.
She will be joined by Mike Thompson - BBC Foreign Affairs Correspondent - who has recently returned from DRC and is writing a book about his experiences, as well as Judith Wanga - a young Congolese woman raised in London - who will describe her return to her homeland documented by BBC3 (due to be screened 30 March) and her devastation on discovering the hidden conflict with it's appalling levels of sexual violence.

We very much hope you will be able to join us and ask that you reserve your free place by emailing tamsin@congonow.org

‘Ruined'
Lynn Nottage's powerful drama is set in a small mining town deep in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In Mama Nadi's bar her rules apply. No arguments, no politics, no guns. When two new girls tainted with the stigma of their recent past arrive, Mama is forced to reassess her business priorities and personal loyalties.

Read more about our projects in DRC