Christine Schuler Deschryver Named One of Women's eNews' 21 Leaders for the 21st Century

Vagina Warrior and V-Day’s newest staff member, Christine Schuler Deschryver has been named one of Women's eNews' 21 Leaders for the 21st Century, an awe-inspiring, reader-nominated list of activists and leaders from all over the world who are making news by changing women's lives.

Christine joins Roxanne Mankin Cason, Sharon Katz, Amy Sananman, Malaak Compton-Rock, Lilly Ledbetter, María Luisa Sánchez Fuentes, Nadia Farjood, Patrick C. Lynch, Paula J. Giddings, Rabbi Diana Manber, Marilyn Smith, Sara Gould, Anika Rahman, Susan Stautberg, Dusti Gurule, Dr. Linda Randolph, Johnnie Walker, Nancy Hopkins, Cathi Rodgveller and Jacki Zehner.

In 2000, after witnessing the rape and murder of her best friend, and after an infant died in her arms, Christine Schuler Deschryver decided to devote her life to alerting the world to the femicide and massive rape against women and children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

"The first victim of atrocities was my best friend," Schuler Deschryver says. "She was raped by 20 men and her body was found with more than 100 holes….I had two choices then, to leave the hell or to alert the world. I chose the second," Schuler Deschryver recalls.

In 2007, she joined the V-Day and UNICEF global campaign STOP RAPING OUR GREATEST RESOURCE: POWER TO THE WOMEN AND GIRLS OF THE DRC. In January of 2009, Christine became a full time staff member and will lead V-Day’s efforts on the ground in the Congo as Director of V-Day Congo and City of Joy.

"It is with women's movements on the ground that we can change the world and bring hope."

For more information on the global campaign and City of Joy, please visit www.vday.org/drcongo