Worth

How much is a life worth? The answer that comes to mind for most all of us is that it is impossible to place a monetary value on the life of a human being.

But we do it all the time. We as individuals, and governments acting in our names make such determinations on a daily basis. What we give to charity and to which charity is an indication of what value we place on a life or lives.

The recent tragedy in Haiti has proven that when crisis hits we are capable of giving in ways we perhaps were not sure were possible. The Canadian government has pledged to match all donations to Haiti by Canadians dollar for dollar and recent meetings about Haiti in Montreal have suggested the global community is looking to make upwards of a $10 billion investment in the stricken country over the next 10 years.

This is amazing and needed news. The earthquake and aftermath in Haiti is absolutely devastating and we must, as part of our obligation to each other, help them rebuild in a sustainable way.

But what value are we placing on the life of Congolese women and girls?

Readers of this space know that for over a year now I have been seized with the situation in the DRC - home to the worst sexual violence in the world. Just stop and think about that sentence for a moment - worst sexual violence in the world. No matter how horrific the stories of rape you hear coming from other countries, there exists a place on this planet where it is worse.

And we have done nothing. We have not responded in any tangible way to the crisis in the DRC that is now closing in on a decade and a half. For 13 years the women and girls in Eastern DRC have been raped and re-raped. Raped once, twice, three times. By men in uniform. By men out of uniform. By men who are supposed to protect them.

Their insides have been physically destroyed. Their insides have been spiritually damaged. The women don't scream because no one will come. After 13 years they know the global community is not coming to rescue them or protect them. They have been ignored and they have been told by us their lives are worth less.

In this great article from the Times, Dr. Mukwege of Panzi Hospital proves that one person can bring hope where none seems to exist. (We're just going to skip over the fact that it's in the Life and Style section as opposed to the News section)

Like many girls, Ruth was held in the forest as a sex slave where she was tied to a tree and raped by passing soldiers for several days at a time. Months passed, but eventually Ruth was released and allowed to begin the arduous journey to Panzi hospital. She was pregnant.

“It was tragic,” Dr Mukwege says. “The baby was stillborn. But her internal injuries were too severe to repair. As her doctor I am pleased that I could restore urinary continence and fit her with a colostomy. But she does not have a vagina, she will never have a period. In her own eyes she is no longer a woman.”

He is engaged in a rebuilding project that is as complex and long term as that in Haiti, for Dr. Mukwege is rebuilding not just women's reproductive and urinary functions but he is helping them rebuild their souls.

The longer we allow this situation to continue the longer we tell a whole population of women and girls that their lives have no value.

If we are to be judged based on how we treat the weakest of our society then we should be judged as failures. All of the good works and good intentions to deliver the people of Haiti from tragedy does not and will not give us a free pass on our inability and unwillingness to deliver the women and girls of the DRC from the horror they have lived every day for 13 years.

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If you're in Ottawa and want to help, please join me on March 13th at the Canadian Museum of Civilization for a benefit reading of A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer. All funds raised will be given to Panzi Hospital, CARE Canada and Family Services Ottawa