CAMPAIGN: Protect Human Rights Defender Justine Masika Bihamba

Human rights defenders working to end violence against women in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) do so in the face of grave threats of violence against themselves and their families. Justine Masika Bihamba is coordinator for Synergy of Women for Victims of Sexual Violence (Synergie des femmes contre les violence sexuelles), a women's human rights organization working in the DRC. Synergy provides services to help victims of sexual violence and has drawn attention to the increasing incidence of rape in the North Kivu region of the country. As a result of their work, Synergy counselors have been threatened and attacked. Because of her work, Justine and her family have been targeted.