On January 29, actress Robin Wright and Enough Project's Raise Hope for Congo Campaign Manager JD Stier joined a group of human rights activists to deliver a petition to the White House calling for a presidential envoy to support a comprehensive peace process in eastern Congo.
Credit/Copyright: JD Stier/Enough Project
The petition, launched by a group of Congolese women and supported by World Pulse and the Enough Project, has received more than 108,000 signatures from around the world.
Credit/Copyright: JD Stier/Enough Project
A group of Congolese women wrote the petition after M23 rebels took over Goma — a key town in eastern Congo — last November, reigniting the region into war. The women feared for their safety and the safety of their families and decided to call on female U.S. leaders to take immediate action in solidarity with the women of Congo.
“The time is now for the White House to respond in support of the women of Congo,” said actress and Raise Hope for Congo activist Robin Wright. “This is a critical moment for action that could be a turning point for the people of eastern Congo.”
The petition calls for a U.S. presidential envoy to support a peace process in Congo that addresses both the immediate crisis and the underlying economic and political interests of the parties. It also pushes for an inclusive peace process that ensures women a seat at the negotiating table.
Raise Hope for Congo is an Enough Project campaign that aims to build a permanent and diverse constituency of activists who will advocate for the human rights of all Congolese citizens and work towards ending the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo. For more information on Raise Hope for Congo, please visit www.raisehopeforcongo.org.
The Enough Project is a project of the Center for American Progress to end genocide and crimes against humanity. Founded in 2007, Enough focuses on the crises in Sudan, South Sudan, eastern Congo, and areas affected by the Lord’s Resistance Army. Enough conducts intensive field research, develops practical policies to address these crises, and shares sensible tools to empower citizens and groups working for change. To learn more about Enough, go to www.enoughproject.org.
