Africa is invisible to us

It’s 6.30pm and I’m in Wynn’s Hotel, central Dublin, for an evening of talks organised by the Congolese Anti Poverty Network (CAPN). Earlier I had been up the street, in the Irish Aid centre, at an exhibition of human rights defenders for the Amnesty International/Irish Section/Zimbabwe Group. My knowledge of Africa was broadening by the hour.

People are gathering, the chatter is getting louder and there’s plenty of flesh being pressed – networking is in full swing. Food has been laid on by a lovely lady by the name of Deirdre. She explains her culinary skills as I munch away and those attending tonight’s talk are in high spirits.

Well dressed men and elegantly style women permeate the upstairs room in Wynn’s. Clearly much effort has gone into the organising of this event. Now all we have to do is wait for proceedings to begin…

Without warning we are addressed by the first speaker, Pierrot Ngadi, who is a Human Rights Activist and a member of Amnesty International. He tells us of the terrible treatment of women in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), his homeland. Prevention of gender violence is his theme. “Men have lost sense of their obligations” he says and criticises the Congolese government’s bad record on human rights.

Current Lord Mayor of Dublin, Emer Costello, is positive about the CAPN’s formation and is “happy to lend (her) support.” She goes on to describe what women, in the DRC, have to face as “harrowing” and “particularly horrific” and emphasises her strong encouragement for the work being done by Mr Ngadi. She also praises Cllr Eric Byrne, who is also present, for his good work in relation to Africa.

The next to speak, to the audience of roughly 50, is a locally based businessman, Logan Raju. Mr Raju is an avuncular figure and is mightily impressive. He speaks clearly and held my attention for the duration. He tells us of his experiences in Ireland and has an extremely pleasant manner. He describes himself as “a Chinaman with a tan”. Much of what he has to say concerns racial integration and how to create a better society. His contribution is warm-hearted and intelligent.

Juno McEnroe, a journalist with considerable experience of Africa, follows Mr Raju and wastes no time terrifying us with the awful reality women have to endure in the DRC: The constant fear of rape, “a cancer”. Despite the ongoing corruption in the country, he says there are people working for positive change. We are informed of the vast size of the nation – the journey from the east to the west is about the same distance from London to Moscow. McEnroe finishes by saying that support is vital to those suffering from sexual violence and other human rights abuses in the DRC.

The craggy features of veteran Irish journalist and broadcaster, Vincent Browne come into view and he addresses us, telling of the scale of the problems in the DRC. He says they are enormous compared to Ireland’s recession. The only country that cares about the DRC is China. The world doesn’t care, Africa is “invisible” to the west, Browne tells those assembled. He goes on to say that we in Ireland “live in a different stratosphere” to the DRC and paints a bleak picture of the human rights problems there. However Browne ends by urging the CAPN to continue its good work.

Following the last speaker there were contributions from the floor and I made my way out of the room, slightly saddened about what I’d heard the speakers say about the DRC, but happy in the knowledge that I had learned more about that huge African nation. I’m glad I went to this meeting and extend my thanks to the organisers.

Further information on the CAPN can be got by logging on to: www.congoapn.com or info@congoapn.com