COFAPRI blogs

DR Congo: Lifting a Weight from Women's Shoulders

Details: March 31, 2012

Women-with-logs

Update from COFAPRI - Safeworld Field Partner in DR Congo:

Sometimes, women carry on their back burdens that are heavier than their own weight, just to earn money to feed their children.

We have started a plant and vegetable growing project on a very small plot of land in or near the compound of every member.

Some women are cultivating maize, sorghum, soya beans, beans, vegetable marrows and potatoes. The first harvest was very beneficial to the whole membership of COFAPRI.

DR Congo: Village Women and Girls Exploited in the Name of the Catholic Church

Details: December 30, 2011

COFAPRI-women2

When Religious Duty Becomes Slave Labour

The women strongly believe that a priest cannot harm them because he is a man who was chosen by God to serve them and these priests know this, which they use to abuse these DRC illiterate women and girls in remote villages....

DR Congo: Village Women Toil But Reap Little Economic Benefit

Details: December 26, 2011

DRC-women-fetching-wood

So long as only the women are more actively involved in agriculture, while the majority of men roam up and down the village seeking alcohol, the situation will always remain catastrophic...

These men who spend days and days drinking alcohol, once back home (often too late), they abuse their wives, beat, insult, harass them sexually, etc.

Once the harvest is sold, the woman is asked for all the money and it is the man who keeps it...

'Child Witches' Blamed for DRC's Problems - Accusations & Abuse on Increase

Details: December 18, 2011

runaways

Exorcism is lucrative business in the DRC.

Barbaric and shameful exorcisms have often been performed using petrol which is poured in the eyes and ears of these defenceless children.

Tragically, some pastors of churches attempt exorcisms in which they place children's hands in near-boiling water to purge what they call bad spirits.