Congo/Women Portraits of War photo exhibit as part of Eckerd-Africa Initiative

Congo/Women Portraits of War: The Democratic Republic of Congo, an internationally-touring photography exhibition and educational campaign that raises awareness of the widespread sexual violence facing women and girls in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), will make its Florida debut in St. Petersburg as the first event of The Plight and Promise of Africa: An Eckerd College Initiative.

On display at The Poynter Institute from January 11 to February 20, 2010, Congo/Women conveys the strength and courage of Congolese women through powerful photographs by award-winning photojournalists Lynsey Addario, Marcus Bleasdale, Ron Haviv, and James Nachtwey. Accompanying essays contextualize the impact of the crisis from a range of perspectives.

"Congo/Women: An Evening with Award-Winning Photojournalist Ron Haviv": Ron Haviv, one of Congo/Women's featured photographers, has produced images of conflict and humanitarian crises that have made headlines from around the world since the end of the Cold War. Numerous museums and galleries have featured his work, including The Louvre, United Nations, and the Council on Foreign Relations. Haviv has published two collections of his photography: "Blood and Honey: A Balkan War Journal" and "Afghanistan: On the Road to Kabul." Most recently, Haviv arrived in Haiti the day after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake tore through that country. Now, directly en route from Haiti, Haviv will be at Poynter on Wednesday, January 27, to be part of an illuminating discussion about the Congo and the crisis in Haiti. Poynter's Visual Journalism Group Leader and Director of Diversity, Kenny Irby, will moderate a conversation with Haviv on Wednesday, January 27 at 7:00 p.m., with a reception to follow. Tickets are $10, and reservations are required. To register, call 727-821-9494.

South Kivu, 2008: A twelve year old girl stands in the Panzi hospital where she is being treated for fistula repair in South Kivu, eastern DRC. She was taken from her home by two soldiers and brought into the forest, where she was kicked to the ground and raped. She was eleven years old when it happened. [Lynsey Addario / VII Network]

Zumbe, 2006: Soldiers of General Ngodjolo's Movement for the Revolution of Congo. Militias like these and government soldiers have been equally guilty of using rape as a war crime. [Marcus Bleasdale / VII]

Gina, 2005: A young girl and her family mourn the death of an eleven-month-old child who died from disease. More than 5.4 million people have died in the Congolese conflict since 1998, the majority of people from disease and hunger prompted by displacement due to regional fighting. Government health care spending is only $6.00 per capita and there are essentially no medical facilities in rural areas other than those provided by international humanitarian groups. [Ron Haviv / VII]

For more information about the photo exhibit, visit the Eckerd College website.

For more information on the Eckerd College Africa Initiative, visit the Plight and Promise of Africa section of Eckerd's website.