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Justine Masika Bihamba, winner of the 2008 Tulip award of The Hague 12/10/2008

2008 Human Rights Defenders Tulip for Congolese women’s rights activist

The first annual Human Rights Defenders Tulip will be awarded to Justine Masika Bihamba from Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ms Masika runs an organisation devoted to stopping the widespread rape of women in the conflict zone in eastern Congo.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Verhagen telephoned Ms Masika to offer his congratulations and to invite her to accept the award on Human Rights Day, Wednesday 10 December, in the Ridderzaal in The Hague. During the call Ms Masika informed the minister about the precarious situation in the region.

‘I hope the prize offers some measure of protection to this brave woman, her family and her staff,’ said Mr Verhagen. ‘I have the greatest respect for the unflinching commitment she has shown. Threats and direct attacks on her and her family have not prevented her from carrying on with her good work. Even a new outbreak of fighting at the end of August has not deterred her.’

Ms Masika’s organisation, Synergie des femmes pour les victimes des violences sexuelles (SFVS), has been active since 2002, providing medical help and psychological support for thousands of rape victims. She also gives courses on sexual violence and its aftermath, in an effort to prevent rape victims from being rejected by their families and communities. The organisation also collects information about the rapes, in the hope of one day bringing the perpetrators to trial, before either a national or international court.

In September 2007 Ms Masika’s house was attacked by soldiers. She was not at home at the time, but her two eldest daughters were assaulted. Since then they have been living abroad. Because her staff members pass on information about rapes to the authorities, they have been arrested, tortured and driven out of their homes by advancing troops during the recent fighting.

The Human Rights Defenders Tulip was created by the Dutch government to honour individuals who take great risks to defend human rights. > To read more.

Manifestation pour la protection des populations civiles 11/25/2008

En particulier des femmes victimes de violences sexuelles en RDC.

La manifestation aura lieu le mardi 25 novembre, à l’occasion de la Journée internationale contre la violence faite aux femmes, Place de la Monnaie, à Bruxelles, de 12h30 à 13h30.

Action symbolique pour exiger la protection des populations de la RDC : Prenez votre parapluie, voire plusieurs parapluies.

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Manifestation mardi 25 novembre, 12h30-13h30. Place de la Monnaie, Bruxelles. Pour la protection des populations civiles et en particulier des femmes victimes de violences sexuelles en République Démocratique du Congo.

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