Photo: Nick Danziger

NENGO
The struggle against sexual and gender-based violence

An exhibition of photography by Nick Danziger

Proposed by Fondation Pierre Fabre in partnership with Agence Française du Développement

Sexual and gender-based violence is a worldwide phenomenon, a traumatic ordeal that leaves victims with life-long physical and psychological consequences. In conflict zones, rape is used to terrorise, dominate and humiliate populations, and coexists with other forms of violence to the person, like forced marriage and genital mutilation. Mainly women and girls are its victims, but also men and boys. In 2018, Dr. Mukwege received the Nobel Peace Prize for his “efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict”.

In Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR), a consortium of international partners made up of the Pierre Fabre Foundation, the keystone and co-sponsor of the project, the Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation, the Panzi RDC Foundation and the IFJD set up a centre for victims of sexual and gender-based violence, based on the format created by Dr. Mukwege in his native Democratic Republic of Congo. 

The centre operates a “holistic approach” addressing the four aspects of their trauma and offers women and children medical treatment, mental health care, financial assistance and legal support so that the crimes can be punished. In Sango, CAR’s official language, “nengo” means “dignity”, for the restoration of dignity is what the centre aims to achieve for its thousands of male, female and child victims. 

Housed in the Hôpital de l’Amitié in Bangui, the Nengo Centre aims to restore dignity to the thousands of women and children it treats every year. In Sango, CAR’s official language, “nengo” means “dignity”. The centre operates a “holistic approach” addressing the four aspects of their trauma and offers medical treatment, mental health care, financial assistance and legal support so that the crimes can be punished. Working alongside the NENGO team, the photojournalist Nick Danziger listened to the stories of the mothers, daughters and families who have all been victims of violence, as well as to the accounts of NENGO workers themselves. The exhibition also has an international message, beyond the borders of the Central African Republic. It speaks of the experiences of all survivors of sexual violence and their struggle to restore dignity. 

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