Emphas.is believes in high-quality photojournalism. The platform, which launched in March, offers photographers a place to pitch an idea for a story, present the budget, and - if they receive the necessary funds - keep in touch with backers with exclusive updates and early access to the work. BJP is backing the initiative as a media partner, and regularly highlights one project that needs funding.

This month, we're looking at a collaborative project by photographers Agnes Dherbeys, Ying Ang, Sarah Elliott and Benedict Kurzen, who plan to document "the large-scale persecution, damage and sexual violence to people in the Democratic Republic of Congo," they explain. "It is a call to attention and a way of bringing another voice to a wider social consciousness about the absolute and unacceptable violation of the human body, predatory behavior towards the vulnerable and bringing lower the already dispossessed and disenfranchised."

They add: "Photographically, the intention is to create a large-scale portrait installation of as many of the women, men and children raped over a four-day period in Walikale of the Democratic Republic of Congo, as possible; over 300 people were reported to have been raped within that time frame, in late July, early August, 2010. The portraits will be a representation of the humanity of these people juxtaposed with the unacceptable crime committed against them in an effort to gain political leverage."

Check out the video below:

Besieged from Emphas.is on Vimeo.

Lend your support by pledging funds on the project's page.