women in my global family

i watched most of the oprah show yesterday while i was working out. the theme of the show was helping others in need around the world. she started with the tsunami victims, but then had a segment on the women in DR Congo. i guess our regular news is so full of iraq that i dont realize what is happening in other places around the world.

warning: the next paragraph is about the treatment of women in the congo….it is violent and hard for the heart to endure.

the democratic republic of Congo has been plagued with war and violence for years. the main victims of war are the women and children, who are seen as “war booty”. rape, violent gang rape, is being used as a weapon of war. i am still overwhelmed by the stories i heard yesterday that my heart seems to be frozen with ache. men from within the congo come out in the night and storm into the homes of innocent families. then they violently gang rape the women….and even children. some women are taken back into the forrest where they are held captive as sex slaves, being raped everyday by multiple men. with no one to help them the victims do not have an authority figure to protect them, nor do they have medical help. due to disease and other health concerns that result from violent gang rape, it is common for the husband of an attacked woman to abandon her.

i do not know much about the history of war in the DR Congo, but i wish to learn. i hope that learning about the history and current situation will lead to discovering a way that i can help provide the victims with hope. i’ve found an organization that is helping the women recover from violent attacks. but i wish to do more than give money. please let me know if you feel the desire to aid the women of our global family…..maybe we can work together.

Tags: Life