Statement on the continued election related violence in the DRC

Women from Around the World Condemn the Election- related Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo

January 12, 2012

The International Civil society Action Network and the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders condemn the election-related violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The UK newspaper, The Guardian reported that at least 20 people have already been killed in election-related violence. Various groups have documented election irregularities from different provinces in the DRC including insufficient ballots, lack of security, destructions of polling stations and last minute replacement of electoral personnel. International election observers have questioned the credibility of the results while the two main candidates, incumbent Joseph Kabila and rival Etienne Tshisekedi both declare themselves winners. Congolese police have launched a crackdown in Kinshasa, forcing the people of Kinshasa and in particular  Congolese youth to remain in their homes.  More recently, members of President Kabila’s Republican Guard beat women who were demonstrating in front of the US embassy against the election irregularities.

Some women peace activists have been receiving phone treats and are verbally abused on the streets. This is a clear attempt to intimidate women’s organizations and civil society groups who are working to build peace and promote human rights and justice.

We stand in support of all women’s groups and civil society organizations demanding a peaceful resolution of the election–related conflict. We support the Cadre Permanent de Concertation de la Femme Congolaise (CAFCO)’s calls for:

• The Independent National Electoral Commission to publish the election results in detail and ensure transparency of the elections;
• The Candidates and political parties to resort to legal means to settle election disputes;
• The Congolese population to demonstrate maturity and good citizens’ behavior and practice a culture of respect, peace and justice; and
• The National Police to carry out their duty of protecting citizens with professionalism and accountability.

We call on regional institutions such as the African Union and the international community to assist the DRC in preventing post-election conflicts and provide all possible forms of support to ensure a fully democratic process. In accordance with UNSCR 1325 and related resolutions we also call on all international actors including the United Nations, European Union and others, to send envoys in order to keep tensions between the opposing political parties from escalating  and assist them in creating opportunities for negotiation, help create peace accords, and possibly bring the two conflicting groups together. We also strongly urge that all envoys or missions dispatched to the DRC have structured and systematic interaction with women and civil society organizations to benefit from the perspectives we offer and ensure that our concerns are addressed and we are included in the resolution of this crisis.

Organizations

1. Afghan Women’s Network – Afghanistan
2. African Women’s Active Nonviolence Initiatives for Social Change (AWANICh) – Ghana
3. Asia Pacific Women’s Watch – Regional
4. Asian Circle 1325 – Philippines
5. Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID) – International
6. Center for Women in Governance (CEWIGO) – Uganda
7. Centro de Education e Investigacion para la Paz (CEIPAZ) – Spain
8. Corporación de Investigación y Acción Social y Económica (CIASE) – Colombia
9. Democracy  FAFI(Federation des Associations des Femmes Ivoiriennes aux USA) – USA
10. FemLINKPacific – Fiji
11. Feminist Scholar Activists for Demilitarization – USA/International
12. Fokus – Norway
13. Fountain ISOKO for Good Governance and integrated Development – Burundi
14. Global Action to Prevent War
15. Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (Netherlands/International)
16. IMPACT – Nigeria
17. International Institute on Peace Education
18. Institute for International Women’s Rights at the University of Winnipeg Global College – Canada
19. International Peace Research Association
20. Kenya Human Rights Commission
21. Kitgum Women’s Peace Initiative – Uganda
22. Kvinna till Kvinna – Sweden
23. Liga de Mujeres Desplazadas – Colombia
24. Lira Rural Women & Children Development Initiative Survivors’ Shelter (LIRWOCDI) – Uganda
25. Middle East and North Africa Partnership for Preventing of Armed Conflict (MENAPPAC)
26. Miriam College Center for Peace Education – Philippines
27. MOSIFA (Motherland Sisters Islamic Foundation in America) – New York, USA
28. Mothers for Active Nonviolence – Ghana
29. National African Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Network (NAIRWN) – USA
30. National Organization of Women (NOW) – Sierra Leone
31. National Peace Academy – USA
32. Observatorio Género Democracia y Derechos Humanos – Colombia
33. Peace Women Partners – Philippines
34. Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy
35. Permanent Peace Movement – Lebanon
36. Red Nacional de Mujeres – Colombia
37. Rural Women Peace Link – Kenya
38. Rwanda Women’s Network (RWN) – Rwanda
39. Saathi – Nepal
40. SAMANATA-Institute for Social and Gender Equality – Nepal
41. Terah Against Terror
42. Teso Women Peace Activists (TEWPA) – Uganda
43. The 1325 Network of Finland
44. The Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice – USA
45. Ulu Women Economic Development and Globalization (GWED-G) – Northern Uganda
46. United to End Genocide – USA
47. United Women for Peace and Social Promotion
48. Voice of the Voiceless – Liberia
49. WO=MEN Dutch Gender Platform
50. Women Allies Peacebuilders Network – Burundi
51. Women in Black – Belgrade, Serbia
52. Women in Peacebuilding Network (WIPNET) – Liberia
53. Women in Peacebuilding Network (WIPNET) – Nigeria
54. Women Integrated Initiative For Development (WIIDE) Kapchorwa – Uganda
55. Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom – International
56. Women Peace Initiatives (WOPI-U) – Uganda
57. Women’s Peace Centre – Burundi

Please note that the names of the Congolese organizations endorsing this statement have been left out for safety reasons

Individuals

1. Cerue Garlo – Liberia
2. Betsy Kawamura, Women4NonViolence – Norway
3. Maud Edgren-Schori – Sweden
4. Mahima Achuthan – USA
5. Renee Black – Canada
6. Lindora Howard-Diawara – Liberia
7. Aude Plassard – France
8. Shirley Randall; Director, Centre for Gender Culture and Development,  Kigali – Rwanda
9. Mama Koite; Vice President du Conceil Economique  Social et Culturel de L’Union Africaine /ECOSOCC/UA
10. Solange Woodson – United States