M23 on the Brink of Defeat: Rwanda on the Sidelines

Congo Week VI Message

As we embark upon the sixth anniversary of Breaking The Silence Congo Week, we greet you in a period of opportunity and possibilities. Due to your engagement, an increasing number of people throughout the globe is becoming aware of the situation in the Congo and demanding of their leaders that they do all in their power to bring an end to the deadliest conflict in the world since World War Two.

The United Nations, African Union, the United States and other countries are getting more involved, however, greater engagement is not a prescription in and of itself. The application of policies grounded in justice for the Congolese people is paramount to bringing about peace and lasting stability in the Congo and the Great Lakes Region of Africa.

Young Congolese both inside and outside of the Congo along with their allies in the global community are mobilizing to assure that policies are implemented to benefit the Congolese people as a whole. Each year, Breaking the Silence Congo Week provides a platform to commemorate the millions of lives lost, elevate the profile of the Congo and engage an increasing number of supporters in the global Congo movement.

We encourage you this year to join us from October 20 - 26, 2013 as we build a global consensus for peace and justice in the Congo.

This year, we are prioritizing three concrete actions:

1. Participate in the Dear John Campaign (A campaign to send a letter/postcard to Secretary of State John Kerry demanding that the US hold its allies in the region accountable for their destabilizing of the DRC)

2.  Organize a fundraiser or benefit event to raise at least $500 to support Congolese youth both inside and outside of the DRC who are organizing for peace and justice. Find out more here: http://congoconnect.org

3. Recruit individuals and organizations (student, women, peace, labor, faith-based, human rights, environmental, etc) to participate in Congo Week and join the Congo Week organizing committee by emailing us at support@congoweek.org.

We encourage you to seize this moment and become a part of a noble pursuit for peace, justice and human dignity in the heart of Africa, our home, the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Samya Lugoma
Youth Coordinator

Kambale Musavuli
Spokesperson

Sign-up for Congo Week!
http://congoweek.org/participation-form.html

Remember to post your event on the events calendar:
http://congoweek.org/component/events/

Share the Congo Week promotional video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiDxvt3pveA&feature=player_embedded

Download Congo Week Organizers Tool Kit and Materials:
http://congoweek.org/downloads.html

Screen our film Crisis in the Congo: Uncovering the Truth
http://congojustice.org

Participate in the CELL-OUT, on October 23, 2013. The CELL-OUT is a one-hour digital moment of silence in support of the Congolese people.
http://congoweek.org/the-cell-out.html