ANU Gender Institute in partnership with Australia for UNHCR is pleased to present a public lecture by Sister Angélique Namaika.

We were delighted to welcome Sister Angélique Namaika during her visit to Australia as the guest of Australia for UNHCR. Sister Angélique is the recipient of the 2013 Nansen Refugee Award, UNHCR’s highest human rights prize, for her ground-breaking work with women and girls in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Following the lecture light refreshments will be served from 7.30pm.

Registration essential online by August 12

This event is free and open to the public.

Please note (above) the change of venue for this event.

Sister Angelique’s courage and achievements are extraordinary in a country widely regarded as the most dangerous place in the world to be a woman. She is based in the town of Dungu in the remote north of the DRC, an area ravaged by Lord’s Resistance Army violence.

Through her women’s refuge Maison de la Femme (House of Women), Sister Angélique has helped transform the lives of more than 2,000 displaced women and girls who have suffered rape, abduction, sexual slavery and other human rights abuses that have resulted in their ostracism from society. Her projects include a UNHCR-funded bakery, a collective farm, sewing workshops and literacy classes that enable women to recover their self-esteem and gain the skills they need to support themselves and their children.

Sister Angelique’s visit forms part of Australia for UNHCR’s work in sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). The organisation funds a number of SGBV projects in the DRC and works to implement UN Resolution 2106 which seeks to build on UN Resolution 1325 and strengthen protections for women in conflict zones.

Please direct all enquiries to Greg Mills, Australia for UNHCR: GMills@unrefugees.org.au

Image credits: B.Sokol for UNHCR / M.Hofer for UNHCR