Gloria Ramazani, 20, Goma, DRC

December 21, 2010

Note: The following was submitted for consideration by the United Nations Security Council for “Voices of a New Generation,” an interactive event held on Dec. 21, 2010. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or the United Nations.

My name is Gloria. I’m 20 years old, I live in Goma in the North Kivu Province, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Young people in DRC don’t have the opportunity to live like other youths in the world. As long as there are wars, we only think of what can happen to us tomorrow. Will there be another war tomorrow? Will we hear gunshots again tomorrow? In eastern DRC, the life of a young girl is very hard. Either the young girl is raped, or she is given to marriage at a young age, or only boys are sent to school, whereas girls must stay at home to do the domestic chores. The first thing that the UN Security Council must do is to bring back durable peace in our country. Once durable piece is achieved, we will have the opportunity to think like other youths, to fulfill ourselves morally, physically, intellectually. So, the only thing I can ask for is durable peace for my country.

Note: You may view Gloria's video here.

- Gloria Ramazani, 20, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo