Friday, June 20, 2008

Help Stop the Gender-Based Violence in Darfur

A few months ago, PRowl Public Relations assisted The Rebecca Davis Dance Company in promoting their world-premier performance, "Darfur." "Darfur" was based off a young man's trip from the fast-paced city of New York to war-torn Darfur, Sudan as a relief worker. While in Darfur, this young man witnessed the struggles associated with this genocide.

The performance was incredibly moving, bringing many to tears. Twenty-five percent of all proceeds were donated to Global Grassroots, a non-profit organization working to aid disadvantaged communities worldwide and especially focused on supporting peace in Sudan. Global Grassroots also works especially to support the women of disadvantaged countries.

While reading CNN.com yesterday, I came upon this article about gender-based violence still occurring in Darfur.

"United Nations peacekeepers say the biggest issue now affecting the region is the systematic rape of women and children. Thousands of women as young as 4 caught in the middle of the struggle between rebel forces and government-backed militias have become victims of rape, they say, with some aid groups claiming that it is being used as a weapon of ethnic cleansing."

We need to do whatever we can to stop this. Women in Darfur are being tied up with their scarves and raped- multiple times- while doing such things as collecting firewood for their homes. They are innocent, and cannot help themselves- we need to.

From GlobalGrassRoots.org: "Global Grassroots is embarking upon an extensive research and advocacy project to understand the underlying reasons and implications of sexual and gender-based violence during conflict in Africa. Spanning eleven countries and six major themes, Global Grassroots will launch its most ambitious advocacy campaign to date, endeavoring to protect and prevent such violence against women and to help survivors reclaim their lives. "

Click here to donate to this very worthy cause and do what you can to help these innocent victims of gender-based violence.

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