Read, Debate: Engage.

KONY 2012: campaign's achievements and yet not to end

November 09, 2012
tags:#child soldiers, #Democratic Republic Congo, #Invisible Children, #Joseph Kony, #Kony 2012, #LRA, #South Sudan, #Uganda, #Washington, #White House
located:South Sudan, Uganda
by:Redaktion
As our author Jack Bicker had reported in September 2012, the Kony 2012 campaign, after six months of great public interest and supported by many US-celebrities, had been constantly forfeiting its huge attention within the public memory. Joseph Kony was still free and children were still abused as soldiers of his Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). In March this year, the campaign against Kony had started with the release of the KONY 2012 video that was initiated by the charity organisation Invisible Children.

More than six months later, despite the apparent disappearance of public interest, Invisible Children can record a considerable list of results though:

  • Starting in March, KONY 2012 garnered 130 million views and more than 3.7 million people from 185 countries signed a pledge in support of efforts to end LRA atrocities.
  • The European Union made a statement in support of the African Union's strategy to stop LRA violence.
  • The U.S. Senate passed the "KONY 2012 resolution" by unanimous consent.
  • In May, top LRA commander Casear Achellam was captured in Central African Republic.
  • In the months since, radio stations in the region have been broadcasting a recording of Achellam's voice urging LRA combatants and captives to escape. Invisible Children supports six radio projects promoting this kind of 'Come Home' messaging.

Also, the Invisible Children Protection Plan has just started to take action through the distribution of flyers in the LRA's areas. It invites the child soldiers to surrender and let them know they will be forgiven with the help of drawn pictures and explanaitions in three different local dialects and languages.

To show that the KONY 2012 campaign is yet not to end, Invisible Children now calls for Move:DC, a group gathering in front of the White House on November 17, 2012 with everyone wearing their red KONY t-shirts after the Global Summit of the LRA will have taken place at the same day's morning where leaders from the conflict area and representatives from global institutions will have given answers to the participants' questions. Click here to register for the events.

Donate here to support Invisible Children's continuing campaign.

Article written by:
Person-Dummy_lightbox
Redaktion
Author
South Sudan Uganda
KonyResults
.
.