{"id":22450,"date":"2023-11-24T09:49:35","date_gmt":"2023-11-24T09:49:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/justiceandpeace.nl\/?post_type=story&p=22450"},"modified":"2023-12-01T12:30:56","modified_gmt":"2023-12-01T12:30:56","slug":"alice-change-maker-blogs","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/justiceandpeace.nl\/en\/stories\/alice-change-maker-blogs\/","title":{"rendered":"Alice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Written by Alice in French<\/a><\/em>
\nEnglish translation by Chlo\u00e9 Magda<\/em><\/p>\n

What I\u2019m about to tell you is nothing more than my own experience in this profession that I love. It seems contradictory to love a job that is a danger to my life. In fact, it is harmful to the lives of those who practice it in my country, the DRC, particularly in South Kivu where I come from.<\/h3>\n

My story is divided into 5 points:<\/p>\n

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  1. Who am I?<\/li>\n
  2. The most beautiful job that worries me<\/li>\n
  3. Subjects that make people angry<\/li>\n
  4. At home or in exile?<\/li>\n
  5. What to do with those who suffer like me or worse than me?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Who am I?<\/h2>\n

    I am a young, committed Congolese journalist. I define myself in this way because I still believe that the microphone I use every day, the pen I wield all day long to inform can save my province.<\/p>\n

    I\u2019m a committed journalist with a focus on the idea of informing beyond the facts. Very humbly, I admit to being passionate about investigative journalism. My favourite topic has always been women\u2019s rights and sexual and gender-based violence in my province. Unfortunately, South Kivu has for some time been considered the rape capital of the world. That\u2019s debatable, but let\u2019s face it, there\u2019s some truth to it.<\/p>\n

    As well as being a journalist in the true sense of the word, I also have the pleasure of being a human rights activist. Next to working as a radio broadcaster at a radio station focused on women\u2019s rights issues, I\u2019m also active in organisations that defend and promote human rights.<\/p>\n

    The most beautiful job that worries me<\/h2>\n

    A classic author by the name of Montesquieu said: \u201cMost men are capable of more great deeds than good ones\u201d. In many countries around the world, we have the kind of men who are capable of undermining the work of the press. We call them \u2018press predators\u2019 who roam my home province of South Kivu. Their modus operandi has always varied. In my case, I have suffered verbal threats, intimidation by people close to the government asking me to correct my way of working, unknown calls announcing my sudden abduction, and more.<\/p>\n

    When I was subjected to these regrettable things in a country declared to be governed by the rule of law, I was forced to go into hiding. For a few weeks, I stopped being visible in the community for fear of reprisals from the predators. Reprisals because I simply worked honestly, saying out loud what many people say in hushed tones.<\/p>\n

    ‘It\u2019s true that this job is not easy, and still at times difficult, nonetheless, it\u2019s a job I am passionate about.’<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    I think that my dream of being a journalist who fights to try to change the course of the world is a dream come true. It\u2019s hard because we have banana peels hanging over our heads from enemies of a free press. Despite this, we are making progress.<\/p>\n\"\"\n

    Who are these enemies? Generally speaking, they are government agents, military officers and other public figures such as agents of the national intelligence agency, heads of the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation, mayors and so on. When the truth on topics that are often kept quiet is revealed to the wider public, all these people are quick to resort to violence against the press. Is it the same here in the Netherlands or in wider Europe? I cannot say, but what is sure is how unsafe and vulnerable journalists are against those that wish we would stay quiet.<\/p>\n

    Subjects that make people angry<\/h2>\n

    Some of the subjects of my radio productions or articles that make people angry are, for example:<\/p>\n