Resolution passed by the Cambridge City Council on October 5, 2009
WHEREAS: the citizens of Cambridge and their representatives on the Cambridge City Council have a strong tradition of upholding principles of peace and respect for all people; and
WHEREAS: the Council has often affirmed its support of the principles of international law and of peaceful alternatives to war: and
WHEREAS: since 1996, the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo has been the epicenter of the deadliest war since World War II, leading to the deaths of nearly six million people: and
WHEREAS: combatants on all sides routinely use rape and sexual violence as a weapon to destroy women, families, and communities, and over 200,000 women have been raped in the course of combat: and
WHEREAS: the perpetrators of sexual violence have acted with impunity and have not been held accountable for their actions; and
WHEREAS: this conflict is fueled by the illegal trade in minerals controlled by warring groups, and eighty per cent of the world’s coltan (used in cell phones and laptop computers) is located in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo: and
WHEREAS: the international community has failed to sanction the looting of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s spectacular wealth, and consequently, poverty in this nation is extremely high, and 80 per cent of the population lives on 30 cents or less per day, and
WHEREAS: October 18 – 24 has been internationally designated Breaking the Silence/Congo Week II
RESOLVED: that the Cambridge City Council go on record recognizing and condemning the grievous impact of the sexual violence and loss of lives in the conflict on families and communities and calling for an immediate end to the violence; and
RESOLVED: that the Cambridge City Council urge the United States government to press for an immediate end to the war and sexual violence, accountability for the perpetrators, and an end to trading in minerals controlled by warring groups; and
RESOLVED: that the City Clerk be and is hereby requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to President Obama and the Secretaries of State and Defense; and
RESOLVED: that the City Clerk be and is hereby requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation, together with a request that the congressional delegation take action on this issue and communicate to the Cambridge City Council what action was taken; and be it further
RESOLVED: that all residents of Cambridge are urged to acknowledge Breaking the Silence/Congo Week II and to take actions aimed at ending the violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.