Washington, DC — On a warm spring day on Monday, activists and supporters from the Enough Project and Women for Women marched with colorful banners across the Memorial Bridge in Washington, D.C., to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to raise awareness about the struggles of women in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The March for Women in Congo was one of 103 events in 18 countries around the world where people gathered on "bridges of peace" to celebrate International Women's Day.

Candice Knezevic, Enough Project RAISE Hope for Congo campaign manager, told the crowd about the war over minerals in the Congo – minerals used to power electronics sold in many countries. She said rape was being used in eastern Congo as a "weapon of war" by militias to gain control of land and resources, leaving the dignity of women as "collateral damage."

Knezevic encouraged everyone present to use their power as consumers to call on companies to use products that are not tainted by conflict.

Andrée Simon, president and CEO of Women for Women International, flew in from Belgium to be part of the event. She told the story of one woman she had met in the Congo whose legs had been severed after she had been raped and witnessed the death of her own son.

"This," she told a solemn crowd, "is the story that no one woman has to tell."

Sylvie Muanga Mbanga, a human rights lawyer and advocate for women's rights, also shared her experiences with the crowd. She thanked the Enough Project and told of working in war-torn eastern Congo with women who have been raped and affected by HIV/Aids.

"I know that the NGOs in this country do a lot but we have to do more, " she said, to help the women in Congo. Among the efforts she called for was international pressure on the Rwandan and Ugandan governments to negotiate with the militias and get the Congolese government to protect its own citizens.

"When you ask women in Congo, 'What do you want?' They will always tell you they want peace," she said.

Seema Jalan, director of Global Development Policy for Women Thrive Worldwide, talked about the International Violence Against Women's Act introduced in the United States Congress with over a quarter of the senators as co-sponsors and 33 members of the House of Representatives supporting the bill from both parties.

Jalan said having a secretary of state "who has made [peace in the Congo] her life mission" and vice president and president who "care about alleviating poverty" presents an unprecedented opportunity to win the fight for women's rights in the Congo and around the world.

With awareness and effort at the international and local level, women's empowerment is within reach, Knezevic said in closing.