DRC / CITY OF JOY

City of Joy is a revolutionary new community for women survivors of gender violence which opened Friday in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The new USD1.5m centre funded by UNICEF, will provide up to 180 Congolese women a year with an opportunity to benefit from things like group therapy, self-defence training, comprehensive sexuality education and economic empowerment. UNICEF

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:17
• Production Date: 8 February 2011
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND - UNICEF
• Subject Topical: HEALTH; HEALTH SERVICES; EDUCATION; TRAINING PROGRAMMES; HUMANITARIAN RELIEF; REFUGEES; DISPLACED PERSONS
• Geographic Subject: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
• MAMS Id: U110208e

Description

STORY: DRC / CITY OF JOY
TRT: 2:17
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: FRENCH / ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 4 FEBRUARY 2011, BUKAVU, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

Shotlist

1. Various shots, City of Joy opening ceremony
2. SOUNDBITE (French) Denis Mukwege, Director, Panzi Hospital:
“As its name suggests, the City of Joy is a place created and executed to provide survivors of sexual violence a new opportunity to turn their pain to power, to take a new start in life, to forget their sad past, to take back their places in the social network for a better future within their society.”
3. Various shots, attendees at ceremony
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Charlize Theron, Messenger of Peace, United Nations:
“We are so proud to be here today, in this movement, in this country, supporting the women of the Congo. We’re turning their pain into power.”
5. Various shots, City of Joy
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Eve Ensler, Founder, V-DAY:
“In my life, I’ve been to many war-torn countries, I’ve been to 60 countries and I’ve listened to stories of raped and violated women around the world
7. Cutaway, audience
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Eve Ensler, Founder, V-DAY:
“But nothing in my experience compared to the atrocities and suffering that were going on in the Congo.”
9. Cutaway, audience
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Eve Ensler, Founder, V-DAY:
“Jambo Mamas (in Kiswahili, ‘Hi women’), you are the strongest women and I promise you, City of Joy will the place where the women of Congo turn the pain to power.”
11. Various shots, ceremony
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Philippe Heffinck, Representative in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, UNICEF:
“UNICEF applauds the efforts of law and order to carry out arrests following the New Years Day attack in South Kivu, and we encourage justice to be pursued with respect for due process and the human dignity of all involved.”
13. Various shots, City of Joy opening celebrations

Storyline

On 4 February, the City of Joy, a V-Day and Foundation Panzi initiative supported by UNICEF opened in Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The City of Joy is a revolutionary new community for survivors of gender based violence, and each year, it will provide 180 women with group therapy, self-defense training, comprehensive sexual education, drama and economic empowerment.

SOUNDBITE (French) Denis Mukwege, Director, Panzi Hospital:
“As its name suggests, the City of Joy is a place created and executed to provide survivors of sexual violence a new opportunity to turn their pain to power, to take a new start in life, to forget their sad past, to take back their places in the social network for a better future within their society.”

In eastern DRC, sexual violence is used as a weapon of war as it ravages the lives of thousands of girls and women. To take the advocacy on gender based violence at a higher level, the opening of the City of joy saw the participation of Hollywood movie stars, such as UN Messenger of Peace and V-Day supporter Charlize Theron.

SOUNDBITE (English) Charlize Theron, Messenger of Peace, United Nations:
“We are so proud to be here today, in this movement, in this country, supporting the women of the Congo. We’re turning their pain into power”

The City of Joy marks the next chapter in V-Day and UNICEF’s ongoing campaign, “Stop Raping Our Greatest Resource: Power to the Women and Girls of the DRC.” It will provide a powerful platform for Congolese women to turn their pain into power and become leaders in their communities.

SOUNDBITE (English) Eve Ensler, Founder, V-DAY:
“In my life, I’ve been to many war-torn countries, I’ve been to 60 countries and I’ve listened to stories of raped and violated women around the world, but nothing in my experience compared to the atrocities and suffering that were going on in the Congo. ‘Jambo Mamas’ (in Kiswahili, ‘hi women’), you are the strongest women and I promise you, City of Joy will the place where the women of Congo turn the pain to power”

Over 17,000 sexual violence incidents were reported to UNFPA in 2009, 50 percent of which involved children. In August 2010, more than 200 women were raped by an armed group in Walikale, North Kivu. And most recently, the Congolese national army is accused of having raped over 30 women in Fizi, south Kivu. UNICEF condemns such crimes.

SOUNDBITE (English) Philippe Heffinck, Representative in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, UNICEF:
“UNICEF applauds the efforts of law and order to carry out arrests following the New Years Day attack in South Kivu, and we encourage justice to be pursued with respect for due process and the human dignity of all involved.”

In 2010, UNICEF gave care to more than 16,000 survivors of sexual violence, including almost 9,000 children. In the past five years, UNICEF assisted over 80,000 individuals after an incident of sexual violence, in eight of the 11 provinces of DRC, mostly in the east where conflicts and displacement continue.