Pamaya, Mahagi Territory, Ituri Province
On March 8, 2026, the village of Pamaya in the Wagungu chiefdom became the center of a powerful community gathering as more than 800 women, youth, elders, and local leaders came together to commemorate International Women’s Day. The event, organized by Environmental Defenders in partnership with Terra FM, brought participants from surrounding villages including Parabongo, Umoyo, Wikidi, Angomoko, Agudi 1, Agudi 2, and Ubongwa.
For many women who attended, the gathering represented more than a celebration. It became a rare opportunity to openly discuss their rights, their role in society, and their responsibility in protecting the environment in a region where women often face marginalization and limited access to decision making.
Across the Congo Basin, women remain central to the survival of rural communities. They cultivate land, manage households, collect water and firewood, and sustain local food systems. Yet their voices are often excluded from leadership spaces and public decision making.
Environmental Defenders organized the event to create a platform where women could speak about justice, equality, and the protection of the land that sustains their communities.
The gathering began with the arrival of hundreds of community members in Pamaya early in the morning. Participants traveled long distances on foot and by motorcycle to attend the celebration.
Traditional leaders welcomed the gathering and acknowledged the importance of the event for the Wagungu chiefdom. Community elders noted that such a large public mobilization around women’s rights had rarely been seen before in the area.
The ceremony opened with the ancestral ritual known locally as Lam the Kwaru, a traditional performance that symbolizes unity, heritage, and respect for cultural identity. The ritual connected the celebration to the history and traditions of the Wagungu people and reminded participants that cultural identity remains closely linked to the land and natural environment.
A moment of reflection followed, allowing participants to reaffirm values of solidarity, responsibility, and community cooperation.
The first discussion session focused on the rights of women and the importance of justice.
Ms. Jeanne Efitia, a community facilitator from BCZ Nyarambe, addressed the participants and called on men and women alike to recognize the equality of women in society. She spoke about the persistence of domestic violence and discrimination, urging communities to promote dignity and respect within families.
She also reflected on the long years during which eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has experienced conflict and instability. During these decades, women have often been the most affected by violence, displacement, and poverty.
Efitia emphasized that women must be supported through education, access to healthcare, and participation in leadership.
Her message resonated strongly with the audience of mothers, farmers, youth, and community leaders who gathered under the open sky.
Lawyer Christian Kibumba then addressed the gathering to explain the national theme of this year’s International Women’s Day: Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls
He reminded participants that women have the same rights as men to education, employment, health care, and justice. These rights, he explained, must not remain theoretical. They must be lived realities.
Kibumba encouraged women to aspire to leadership positions at all levels of society, including government institutions and national leadership.
For him, the concept of action is the most important part of the theme. Rights must be defended and exercised through community awareness and civic engagement.
He also paid tribute to Clara Zetkin, the activist whose advocacy helped establish International Women’s Day more than a century ago.
Environmental protection was a central theme throughout the celebration.
In rural Ituri, women are deeply connected to the environment. They depend on forests, rivers, and agricultural land to feed their families and sustain their livelihoods.
Environmental degradation directly affects their lives. Deforestation, soil erosion, and uncontrolled bushfires threaten agricultural productivity and food security.
Environmental Defenders has been working with communities in Mahagi Territory and across the Albertine region to raise awareness about sustainable agriculture, biodiversity protection, and climate resilience.
During the event, community theater performances illustrated the consequences of environmental destruction and the importance of protecting forests and natural resources.
Through storytelling and drama, the performers demonstrated how sustainable practices can protect ecosystems while supporting livelihoods.
The message was clear: women are not only caretakers of families, they are also guardians of the environment.
The First Lady of the Wagungu chiefdom addressed the participants during the closing ceremony.
She thanked the women of the chiefdom for their courage, commitment, and resilience. She also expressed gratitude for the work carried out by Environmental Defenders in promoting environmental awareness and sustainable development in the region.
According to her remarks, community efforts to prevent bushfires and restore degraded land are beginning to improve environmental conditions in the lake plain.
Local leaders emphasized that cooperation between communities, traditional authorities, and civil society organizations is essential to ensure sustainable development in Wagungu.
Throughout the day, women expressed their desire to become more involved in community development and decision making.
Participants highlighted the importance of protecting land, promoting sustainable agriculture, and strengthening women’s leadership in local governance.
Community elders acknowledged that women already play a central role in maintaining the social and economic fabric of rural life. Supporting their leadership is therefore essential for the long term development of the chiefdom.
The gathering in Pamaya demonstrated the power of community mobilization.
More than 800 participants came together not only to celebrate International Women’s Day but also to affirm that women are key actors in building a just and sustainable future.
Through initiatives like this event, Environmental Defenders continues to support communities in the Congo Basin to defend their rights, protect their environment, and strengthen the role of women in shaping the future of their societies.
For the women of Wagungu, the message of the day was simple but powerful.
When women are empowered, communities grow stronger and the environment stands a better chance of being protected for generations to come.