The International Colloquium on Women’s Empowerment, Leadership, Development, International Peace and Security ended yesterday with the signing of the Monrovia Agreement aimed at implementing many of the specific issues discussed.

One of the last speakers was a powerful representative from the United Nations who talked about the UN Security Council’s resolution to end the use of rape as a tool of violence during and post conflict.

She talked about an interview she had with three Congolese girls just last week. The girls told her about their very recent experience of being gang raped and mutilated. She called rape the poor man’s B-52 bomb because it is used as a tool of violence and devastation of entire communities.

Over 200,000 women in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been raped during this most devastating recent conflict.

I could see the discomfort among the group of women attending the conference as the presentation was being made. There were two women sitting in front of me who were were so clearly upset –  I’m sure that there were more than a few victims of rape in the room.

EDUCATION

I attended a very positive breakout session on Gender Equity and Girls Education.

Emily Peal (left) and Deborah Lindholm of Foundation for Women (right) with Pray the Devil Back to Hell producer, Abigail Disney.

There was great energy in the room with representatives from UNICEF, Ministries of Education and more. We identified a number of challenges with regards to girl child education and it was clear that our experiences in Uganda have given me a lot of insight into the challenges that lie in front of us to improve a girl’s chances for success.

One of the most important things that came out of it for me was the need for adolescent girls to receive mentoring from peers and for parents to be involved and supportive of the girl-child’s education.

We’ve seen this so clearly in Uganda — and of course it makes all the sense in the world because parents (especially mothers) are so instrumental in the academic success of their children in developing countries.

Can’t wait to start implementing some new tools into our education programs and help support some of the most powerful girls in Africa!