Actress Andie MacDowell Works To End Silence Over Congo

The effort to raise awareness of ongoing atrocities in Democratic Republic of Congo—especially the rampant use of rape as a weapon by the Congolese military—got a boost this past weekend when actress and activist Andie MacDowell screened Emmy-nominated documentary The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo  in her home state of North Carolina.  MacDowell, who has been screening the documentary for months, said Saturday that “we as human beings do not accept this.”

The documentary includes in-depth interviews with Congolese rape victims as well as with prominent figures who give context to the conflict in Congo. Each screening of the documentary is followed by a question and answer session in which attendees are encouraged to support the Conflict Minerals Trade Act and the International Violence Against Women Act.  Enough has worked extensively through its Raise Hope for Congo campaign on the Conflict Minerals Trade Act--a step toward ending the international financing of the world’s deadliest conflict since World War Two.  The bill is designed to use multiple means to ensure that companies whose products contain conflict minerals are properly monitored and held accountable.

So if you’re in the area, make sure you drop by one of these screenings to learn more about the situation in Congo and how to get involved.

• 60Minutes
• Eastern Congo
• Conflict Minerals
• Sexual and Gender Based Violence