Following the presentation of Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer prize winning play “Ruined,” on Sunday, June 14, 2009, Friends of the Congo, Congo Global Action and Ellen Stone Belic Institute will host a historic panel discussion. The forum will feature Congolese women working to bring about peaceful and lasting change in the Congo.

The women will share with the New York audience concrete policy prescriptions for bringing about an end to the rampant sexual violence taking place in the Congo and offer ways in which people can directly support women’s and other grassroots groups working to bring about lasting and peaceful change in the Congo.

The United Nations says the conflict in the Congo is the deadliest in the world since World War Two. Since 1996, it is estimated that nearly 6 million people have died in the Congo due to conflict and conflict related causes. Hundreds of thousands of women have been raped as a weapon of war. Lynn Nottage’s play, “Ruined” depicts the struggles and triumphs of Congolese women who are trapped in a brutal resource war in the heart of Africa.

Who: Friends of Congo, Congo Global Action, Ellen Stone Belic Institute for the Study of Women and Gender in the Arts and Media, Columbia College Chicago, George Malaika Foundation, Congo Restoration, Foundation Shalupe, HEAL Africa, Lisa Jackson of Jackson Films, Playwright Lynn Nottage, second African American woman in history to win Pulitzer Prize for Drama and cast members of Ruined will participate in the historic event.

What: Benefit production of Ruined and panel discussion led by Congolese Women. Proceeds from the purchase of tickets for the June 14th production will support women’s programs in the Congo.

When: 2 PM EST Sunday, June 14, 2009

Where: Manhattan Theatre Club
New York City Center
130 West 56th Street
New York, NY 10019

Click here in order to purchase tickets for the benefit production and panel discussion. Also, please call Friends of the Congo at 202-584-6512 or Congo Global Action at 202-884-9784. You may also email info@friendsofthecongo.org or info@congoglobalaction.org.