Prayer for Peace in DR Congo

‘Prayer for peace in Congo’ is a campaign for peace and reconciliation in the DRC.A Christmas lecture will be held in the Houses of Parliament and Jean Bosco Kanyemeshawrites about the cause seeking your support.

Human rights’ abuses and gender issues are among the most serious dilemmas African countries are facing, particularly in states experiencing governance challenges due to intricate complex political conflicts such as Sudan, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The numbers of cases involving the violation of individual rights and other forms of physical or psychological abuse such as torture, political persecution and public beatings have become prevalent in news casts around the world; however, gender abuse and human rights violation are on a horrendous scale in the DRC.

Atul Kare, a United Nations special envoy on sexual violence told the Security Council that the UN has failed on its mandate to protect the Congolese population as a result of the recent mass atrocities that have taken place around Walikali and Luvingi in North Kivu.

There are serious allegations of human rights abuse and inhuman treatment still taking place in the DRC.And a solution must be found to end the culture of abuse. Measures must be taken to deal with gender issues and the perpetual erroneous governance that is leading the country to a post-conflict disorder?

For this reason Prayer for peace in Congo was initiated to galvanise public support and to get the British authority to use their privileged position as a permanent member of the Security Council to find a peaceful solution and push for improvement on the problems.

Launched at the Houses of Parliament in 2009 with the backing of Lord David Alton of Liverpool, Lord Michael Joynt Scoot, Bishop of Winchester and prominent Black Church leaders, the Prayer for peace campaign has gained great support among the Christian community in the UK.

The organisation will host a Christmas lecture on Thursday 16 December in the Houses of Parliament titled: ‘The renaissance of the post – conflict women in DR Congo’. 

The Archbishop of Canterbury international development Secretary Reverend Rachel Carnegie is the main speaker, with Harriet Harman MP Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, David Lammy MP and Yvette Cooper MP Shadow Foreign Secretary.

The event will give an insight into the actual state of women in Africa and the DRC. A larger conference  will follow at Bishopgate St Ethelburga’s centre, in March 2011.

Both events will encourage policy makers to seriously discuss and address the atrocities being committed in DRC.

Reverend Jean Bosco Kanyemesha , Executive secretary of Peace International

To take part in the Christmas lecture, please register online as place are very limited.

The March event is largely open but there will be a fee for the conference, this will allow us to cover the conference expenses, and information about this will be posted shortly on our websites. To book a place please visit the website.  or  Or call  0208 553 5552  / Jeanbosco@peaceinternational.org.uk

Prayer for peace in Congo initiative is under the umbrella of Peace International a Christian led Ngo, working in UK and in Sub-Saharan countries of Africa.

Peace International is committed to social change through, education, training, support and assistance to victims of conflict and injustice; promoting peace and reconciliation.