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WHEREAS, over five million people have died in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the last ten years as a result of war and its aftermath, approximately 45,000 people continue to die every month and the use of sexual violence as a military tactic continues to be pervasive; and,
WHEREAS, it is incumbent upon the international community, and Pittsburgh, to remain actively engaged in the effort to bring peace to the Democratic Republic of Congo; and,
WHEREAS, The mission of the Panzi Foundation USA is to raise awareness about the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a primary focus on the acts of violence and degradation inflicted upon women and girls in the Congolese community. The Panzi Foundation USA works in support of the Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, DR Congo, which provides medical and psychological treatment and socio-economic assistance for victims of sexual violence, as well as protective care services for children conceived from sexual violence; and,
WHEREAS, The Pittsburgh Human Rights Network is a project intended to create a permanent, accessible interface for different groups and organizations in the Pittsburgh area who are working to promote international human rights. The network was developed by Global Solutions Pittsburgh in May of 2009 and is designed to enable individuals, university student groups, professional organizations, faith based groups and community focused groups in the Pittsburgh area to easily communicate and coordinate with one another, so as to more effectively promote international human rights; and,
WHEREAS, On March 18, 2011 the Panzi Foundation USA and the Pittsburgh Human Rights Network will be hosting “Help Healing in Congo” at Shadyside's Alto Lounge from 5 to 8 pm. The event is dedicated to raising awareness and funding for women affected by the ongoing conflict in the Congo. It will feature a discussion led by Dr. Lee Ann De Reus, co-founder of the Panzi Foundation USA, on the work of the organizatio...
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