Documentary Film:
The Road to SunCity – the Extraordinary March of Congolese Women Towards Peace

CatImpact-Peacebuiding-documentary-film

Documentary Film:
The Road to SunCity – the Extraordinary March of Congolese Women Towards Peace

Client/Partner:

True Heroes Film, on behalf of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, in cooperation with UN Women

Lead Expert:

Katharina R. Vogeli (CatImpact)
and the crew from True Heroes Films

Brief:

True Heroes Films, supported by CatImpact Sàrl, through this documentary showcased DR Congolese women leaders’ implication in the negotiations leading up to and during the Sun City Peace talks (2000 – 2003) by highlighting the stories of some of the women involved. In telling the narrative of each of the women’s “coming of age” in Sun City, and by tracing their path from the implication in the peace talks to their present-day engagement in the DRC, the film shows not only a positive – and early – example of the implementation of Resolution 1325, but also of the challenges that remain.

Achievements:

Production of the documentary “The Road to SunCity: Congolese Women’s Extraordinary March towards Peace”.

Congolese women leaders’ decisive impact during the Inter-Congolese Dialogue in Sun City, as well as their contribution to its successful conclusion has been showcased.

By showing the critical implication of Congolese women leaders in the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, the importance of UN SC Resolution 1325 is presented in time for the 20th anniversary of its signing (October 2000).

Objectives:

True Heroes Films (THF) was mandated by the FDFA Human Security Division in May 2019 to film the story of DR Congolese women’s’ implication in the negotiations leading up to and during the Sun City (South Africa) Peace talks (2000 – 2003). Katharina Vogeli, the founder of CatImpact, was its producer.

In telling the narrative of each of the woman’s “coming of age” in Sun City, and by tracing their path from the implication in the peace talks to their present-day engagement in the DRC, this film shows a positive – and early – example of the implementation of Resolution 1325, but also of the challenges that remain.

 

The objectives of the film were that

  • it should be an encouragement to women, young and old, to take the courage to step out and get engaged, even in the face of (male/cultural) resistance.
  • It should incite men, young and old, to realize and recognize the key role women need to play for the success of initiatives aiming to contribute to peace and security.
  • It should be used for the promotion of women as senior actors in peace and security, encourage the United Nations to implicate more women, earlier on, in peace processes, and its member states to promote women for senior roles in mediation teams.
  • Finally, the film should be shown to celebrate the role Congolese women played in the successful conclusion of the Sun City peace talks.

 

The documentary was produced with French and English subtitles. The full version can be viewed here.

For more information please contact info@catimpact.org