Kalemie: Women take responsibility in transition and election processes

October 10, 2004 - (MONUC) Parliamentarian Vicky Katumwa addresses the workshop. Sensitizing women on the importance of their active participation in DRC's transition was the main them in a workshop entitled: "The Congolese Woman in View of the Stakes of the Transition: Focus on Kalemie." Lead by a women's delegation from Kinshasa headed up by Ms. Vicky Katumwa, the first Reporter of the National Assembly and Kalemie native, the workshop lasted three days, from 14 to 16 October 2004.

Discussions and working groups debated the role of women in politics and more specifically in the presidential elections scheduled for June 2005.

Throughout the workshop, the Kalemie social activists expressed their need to receive more information on their political and civil rights. Many of the participants said they were severely uninformed on the composition and functions of the transitional institutions.

In discussion blockages in their participation in the transitional process, many of the working groups said they feared electoral fraud and manipulations of behalf of the political activist. They also saw traditional authorities and some religious groups as potential obstacles in their participation in the transitional process.

"Many people do not want women to participate, to speak out. They want us to be afrai, and we were, but now we see that we must get over our fear and take responsibility in our government" said one participant.

Co-organized with women's organization Family First Program (programme famille d'abord), the delegation plans to organize similar events in the near future in Mbandaka and Bandundu.

"Once a woman wants to do something, it is hard to stop her. We are strong, and very convincing!" concluded Ms. Katumwa, addressing the workshop.

From: http://monuc.org/StoryPrint.aspx?StoryID=319