“Never Alone Again” a survivor of Congo’s wars walks with support from FONAREV, symbolizing resilience and the demand for justice showcased in the New York exhibition.
At UN Assembly, Congolese Voices Demand Recognition of Génocost
At UNGA in New York, Congolese survivors and artists demand recognition of the Génocost through a powerful art exhibition calling for justice.
Published:
September 18, 2025 at 4:43:21 PM
Modified:
September 18, 2025 at 5:12:45 PM
New York, Sept. 18, 2025. As world leaders gather for the 80th United Nations General Assembly, Congolese artists, survivors, and activists are using art to confront the world with a painful truth: the atrocities in eastern Congo are not random; they are part of a Génocost a genocide driven by the scramble for Congo’s minerals.
A Cry Through Art
The exhibition, Art for Peace and Resilience, is being presented by the DRC’s Permanent Mission to the UN, in collaboration with FONAREV (the National Fund for the Reparation of Victims of Sexual Violence) and CIA-VAR (the Inter-Institutional Commission for Assistance to Victims). Curated by acclaimed Congolese artist Aimé Mpane, it showcases the artwork of survivors of sexual violence, turning suffering into testimony and silence into resistance.
Art Exhibition Details:
Event: Art for Peace and Resilience
Dates: September 23rd – 26th | 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Location: 15 E 40th Street, New York, NY 10016
Although there is still a long way to go, our commitment, determination, and everyone’s participation are the keys to our success,” said François Kakese, Executive Coordinator of CIA-VAR.
Génocost: A Crime Fueled by Greed
Since the late 1990s, armed groups, many backed by Rwanda, have unleashed war in eastern Congo, leaving millions dead and countless women violated. This violence has one constant: the plunder of Congo’s vast natural wealth. Coltan, gold, and cobalt, resources that power the global economy, have become the blood price of Congolese lives.
FONAREV calls this reality Génocost, a genocide by economic design. And now, in New York, they are demanding the world name it, recognize it, and act.
Justice Cannot Wait
For survivors, the fight is not only about memory but also about reparations and dignity. FONAREV has already identified over 190,000 victims, providing healthcare, legal aid, and pathways to justice. But leaders stress that without international recognition, progress will remain fragile.
Getting the international community to recognize this génocost would mark a turning point in our nation’s journey towards ending this violence, and reshaping our collective memory,” said Patrick Fata, Director General of FONAREV.
A Call to the World
The exhibition runs from September 23–26 in New York. It is not only an art show, it is a plea for justice, a demand that the UN and the international community stop turning away from Congo’s suffering.
As one visitor remarked: This is not just Congo’s fight, it is humanity’s test
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