ATHENA - AFRICALIVES! CULTURE and ADVOCACY GLOBAL SUMMIT TO END SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN CONFLICTS and follow up work Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI)
ALL CONTENT AND WRITINGS COPYRIGHT OF SHANA de CARSIGNAC MONGWANGA-ELOKO / ATHENA-ARICALIVES! CULTURE AND ADVOCACY
In June 2014, the United Kingdom launched a global campaign to end sexual violence in conflicts, spearheaded by then UK Foreign Secretary William Hague and United Nations Special Envoy Angelina Jolie.
With her organisation Athena-AfricaLives! Culture and Advocacy (named AFRCALIVES! at the time) Shana de Carsignac Mongwanga attended the Global summit with a Delegate team, provided an Art Exhibition and Market stall with the input of grass-roots Congolese women which became a focal point during the summit for Congolese, Africans, visitors and delegates at the Summit. Below are the follow up work we continued to do with PREVENTING SEXUAL VIOLENCE INITIATIVE (PSVI) and the highlight of what was meant to be a cornerstone event.
ADVOCACY - DELEGATES TEAM - ART EXHIBITION - MARKET PLACE AT THE GLOBAL SUMMIT
Shana de Carsignac Mongwanga Athena-AfricaLives! Culture and Advocacy director with Fatou Bensouda - International Criminal Court Prosecutor
Shana de Carsignac Mongwanga at End Sexual Violence Summit in London
Shana de Carsignac Mongwanga Athena-AfricaLives! Culture and Advocacy director with Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr Denis Mukwege
#FORWARD CONGO WOMEN was the theme of AfricaLives! (Now Athena-AfricaLives! Culture and Advocacy) work for the Global Summit to end Sexual Violence in Conflicts.
It showcase works about Congolese Women's courage and resilience despite being victims of wars which have been played directly on their bodies. Not only in the East, but all over Congo and throughout the years.
'#FORWARD CONGO WOMEN' is about moving the mindset beyond the victimisation of Congolese Women. They are ready to lead Congo to a better a prosperous future.
Article extract: 'Rape has been used as a weapon of intimidation, humiliation, destabilisation, displacement, partition and balkanisation. In the wake of such displacement, there has been an increase in mineral extraction and trade from those regions, which in turn is linked to the increased arms trade in the region. Rape, then, is not a remnant of traditional culture, nor is it merely the unfortunate by-product of the conflict. The mass rape of Congolese women is in fact a central mechanism in the war strategy and the war economy of eastern Congo. Yet, while women are undoubtedly the victims of rape, it is wrong and unproductive to see them only as victims...'
To cite this article: Shana Mongwanga (2014) A new dawn for Congo: the central role of women in moving DRC forward, Peacebuilding, 2:2, 227-229, DOI: 10.1080/21647259.2014.910916 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21647259.2014.910916 A New Dawn for Congo: the central role of Women in moving DRC Forward Shana Mongwanga AFRICA LIVES!, UK Published online: 27 May 2014.
Moving forward in DRC requires to foster a true environment for competent women to emerge and play their part in the country.
Nobel Peace Prize Dr Denis Mukwege and Belgian Minister Didier Reynders
2016 - NEWS- LAUNCH OF THE INTERNATIONAL PROTOCOL ON PREVENTING SEXUAL VIOLENCE INITIATIVE (PSVI) AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
Athena-AfricaLives! Culture and Advocacy's Director and Founder Shana de Carsignac Mongwanga attended the launch of the PSVI launch of the protocol documentation and investigation of sexual violence in conflicts at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It was a great opportunity to provide input on what can and should be achieve to keep the promises made during the Global Summit to end sexual violence in conflicts.
Congolese Women's perspective on GLOBAL SUMMIT TO END SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN CONFLICTS
AFRICALIVES! (Now Athena-AfricaLives! Culture and Advocacy) was thrilled to be one of the very few Congolese indigenous organisation at the Global Summit on Sexual Violence - with ADVOCACY DELEGATES, A GALLERY EXHIBITION and A MARKET STALL throughout the Summit in June 2014
AfricaLives! Director (Now Athena-AfricaLives! Culture and Advocacy) - Shana de Carsignac Mongwanga - attended as a Delegate, at the Summit with a few colleagues and also presenting original Artwork by ELOKO (her Artist name) screening a special cut of our film '2016= CONGO'S NEW DAWN' by Sheffield Hallam University MA in Film and Media Production Student Lucy Smith-Jones and a Market Stall selling limited prints of some of our paintings.
AFRICALIVES! was thrilled to be one of the very few Congolese indigenous organisation at the Global Summit on Sexual Violence - with ADVOCACY DELEGATES, A GALLERY EXHIBITION and A MARKET STALL throughout the Summit in June 2014. https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/sexual-violence-in-conflict
AfricaLives! work has been hugely successful! We SOLD OUT all Art Craft, raised money for Tatiana Giraud Foundation and Mothers of Congo and garner a lot of support for all 3 organisations. The Film and Gallery opened the eyes of many visitors about the Congolese women's perspective on the Conflict. Our Delegates connected with Civil society from Congo, Experts and Officials to truly build the base for Moving #FORWARD CONGO WOMEN.
NEWS - June 2014
GLOBAL SUMMIT REVIEW Congolese Women's Perspective on the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflicts
READ AFRICALIVES! REVIEW of the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in
#FORWARD CONGO WOMEN' is the theme of AfricaLives! work for the Global Summit to end Sexual Violence in Conflicts.
It showcases works about Congolese Women's courage and resilience despite being victims of wars which have been played directly on their bodies. Not only in the East, but all over Congo and throughout the years.
'#FORWARD CONGO WOMEN' is about moving the mindset beyond the victimisation of Congolese Women. They are ready to lead Congo to a better a prosperous future.
Moving forward in DRC requires to foster a true environment for competent women to emerge and play their part in the country. Article extract: 'Rape has been used as a weapon of intimidation, humiliation, destabilisation, displacement, partition and balkanisation. In the wake of such displacement, there has been an increase in mineral extraction and trade from those regions, which in turn is linked to the increased arms trade in the region. Rape, then, is not a remnant of traditional culture, nor is it merely the unfortunate by-product of the conflict. The mass rape of Congolese women is in fact a central mechanism in the war strategy and the war economy of eastern Congo. Yet, while women are undoubtedly the victims of rape, it is wrong and unproductive to see them only as victims...'
To cite this article: Shana Mongwanga (2014) A new dawn for Congo: the central role of women in moving DRC forward, Peacebuilding, 2:2, 227-229, DOI: 10.1080/21647259.2014.910916 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21647259.2014.910916 A New Dawn for Congo: the central role of Women in moving DRC Forward Shana Mongwanga AFRICA LIVES!, UK Published online: 27 May 2014.