The World March of Women (WMW) is closing its third international action in Bukavu, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), from 14 to 17 October 2010. More than 38,000 women have joined the action since it was opened on International Women’s Day 8th March 2010. Women and allies have been building national platform around four action areas: women’s economic autonomy; common goods and public services; violence against women; and peace and demilitarisation.

A vast global movement mobilising groups and organisations fighting for the eradication of the causes of poverty and violence against women, the World March of Women is bringing together, in Bukavu, an international delegation of 250 women from over 160 countries, alongside 900 Congolese women from the nation’s ten regions. Bukavu is a symbolic place. Sexual violence in the eastern DRC continues today at epidemic proportions, but few cases ever reach the justice system. The recent UN Mapping Report says that victims’ lack of access to justice and the near total impunity that has reigned in recent decades has made women even more vulnerable that they were before.

Commenting on the third international action event in Bukavu, Global March Chairperson Kailash Satyarthi said: “The policies, programmes and action plan of the World March of Women are central to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and the elimination of child labour. By overcoming inequality, discrimination and violence against women and girls at all levels and in all political and socio-economic areas, especially education, then real and sustainable change can be achieved.”

For more information on the World March of Women movement in English, French and Spanish, click here

To visit the web site (available in English, French and Spanish) of the Third International Action of the World March of Women, click here