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Films

Screening of Fighting the Silence and discussion with the filmmakers


Date & time
Thursday, December 3, 2015
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Speaker(s)

Femke & Ilse van Velzen

Cost

This event is free

Contact

Marie Lamensch

Where

Visual Arts Building
1395 René Lévesque W.
Room VA-114

Wheel chair accessible

Yes

The Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies in collaboration with the Human Rights Research and Education Centre at the University of Ottawa will feature “Fighting the Silence”, a documentary on sexual violence against women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

During the DRC’s seven year war, more than 80.000 women and girls were raped. Directors Femke & Ilse van Velzen tell the story of the struggle for recognition by victims of sexual violence in the Eastern Region of the DRC.

The screening is taking place as part of the 3rd University of Ottawa Human Rights Film Festival and will be followed by a discussion with film makers.

Register today! The event is free and open to the public but donations are welcomed.
 

Synopsis

The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s seven year war was the deadliest ever recorded in Africa. During that time, more than 80,000 women and girls were raped. Only now that the country is formally at peace are the consequences of the brutality becoming truly visible. Rape is slowly seeping into everyday life.

“Fighting the Silence” tells the story of ordinary Congolese women and men that are struggling to change their society: one that prefers to blame victims rather than prosecute rapists. Rape survivors and their families speak out openly about the suffering they endured because their culture considers women second class citizens and rape a taboo. They give voice to thousands of other survivors and their families who have chosen to hide their grief and remain silent for fear of being rejected by their families and community.

Girls and women survivors tell of the brutality they experienced. Married couples openly talk about the pain they endure. Husbands talk of the pressures that led them to abandon their wives and why they agreed to take them back. A father explains why he has given up on his daughter’s future and how he wishes he could afford to take her rapist to court. Soldiers and policemen share their (shocking) views about why rape continues to flourish despite the war having officially ended four years ago.

 

Please note that this event is also taking place within the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, an international campaign which calls for the elimination of gender-based violence by raising awareness at the local, national, and international levels. This screening is made possible through cooperation with the University of Ottawa, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, IFPRODUCTIONS and the University of Ottawa.

 


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