‘CROSSINGS’ the journey to peace ‘CROSSINGS’ offers a compelling glimpse into the lives of cross-border traders in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and illustrates the potential of this trade to contribute to peace in the region. The DRC is the third largest country in Africa. Despite its vast mineral wealth, its people are among the poorest in the world. Decades of conflict have left the country devastated. The situation of women has been particularly acute, with DRC bleakly described as the ‘rape capital of the world’. Yet despite these troubles, life goes on in eastern DRC. In a region where economic opportunities are limited, small-scale cross-border trade is one of the most important means for ordinary people to feed, clothe and educate their families; three-quarters of these traders are women, most are head of households.
