DR Congo “I cry with the women. I share a part of their suffering” Close-up 24 November 2025 With these words, Chantal Binwa describes what her daily work means - and why she has not stopped fighting for women and girls in eastern DR Congo for more than 25 years. Chantal was only 18 years old when she founded the organization AFPDE in 1999. Then as now, sexualized violence remains one of the most brutal realities of the conflict in South Kivu. But Chantal refused to look away. She wanted to take action - and protect women who had no one else to stand by them. Over the years, her work has helped thousands of survivors: through psychological support, medical care, legal assistance, and by helping them find their way back to self-determined lives. For many years, we at action medeor have supported her through various joint projects. Since early 2025, the situation has once again deteriorated dramatically. Armed groups are spreading across the region, and attacks on women and girls are taking place systematically - as a deliberate weapon to spread fear, displace communities, and exert power. Many women are already in danger when they go to fetch water or work in the fields. Children, men, entire communities are being shattered by the violence. Despite these challenges, Chantal remains on the ground together with her AFPDE team, supported by action medeor. She stands by women who have survived unimaginable violence. She creates safe spaces. She listens, comforts, empowers, and gives hope. And she does so even as she herself reaches her emotional limits. “I feel good when I can help and be of use to the women,” says Chantal.