These
figures highlight the progress being made by organisations inside the
DRC, including the office of the Personal Representative to the
President on sexual violence and child recruitment, Ms Jeanine
Mabunda.
However,
the DRC is still dealing with outbreaks of unrest across the country,
in particular in Kasai province. On International Day for the
Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, Ms Mabunda commented on
the publication of the figures and on the scale of the challenge:
“Whilst
the reduction in the reported cases of sexual violence in conflict
situations is a milestone to be celebrated, we must not underestimate
the long road ahead. Sexual violence continues to be a tool used by
the most powerful in our society to terrorize the most vulnerable, as
shown by recent reports of appalling sexual violence in the province
of Kasai, which is experiencing heavy fighting of late.
“To
mark the second International Day for the Elimination of Sexual
Violence in Conflict, we are revitalising our efforts, in
collaboration with our domestic and international partners, to
continue our work. On 27th June
we will be opening Pavilion 8 of the General Referral Hospital of
Kintambo, a centre dedicated to the gynaecological care of and
support for victims of sexual violence. We are also raising awareness
of our hotline service.
“We
want to let victims know that there is support available, and that
there is no shame in coming forward. We are working with political
representatives across the country to push this to the top of the
agenda. We appreciate that, unfortunately, sexual violence in
conflict continues to be a significant problem in our country,
however we are working hard to change that wherever possible. One of
the most important but also largest challenges is to bring the
perpetrators of these terrible crimes to justice.”
The
General Referral Hospital of Kintambo is the second most popular
hospital in Kinshasa and Pavilion 8 is a collaboration between the
Office of the Personal Representative and various private sector
organisations, including the Japanese Embassy.
The
following activities are also taking place over the next few weeks to
mark International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in
Conflict:
·On
24th June in Kasai and Kinshasa, there will be a
ceremony held by the Office of the Personal Representative in
partnership with the Wallonia Brussels Centre to announce the
provincial edict on the prohibition of "retrograde and demeaning
customs against women in the Central Kasai Province”. This
initiative has been led by women from Kananga, who petitioned for a
law protecting Kasai women. The edict is being hailed as a major step
forward in the struggle for women’s rights, in Kasai in particular
and for the DRC in general
·On
27th June, to coincide with the opening of Pavilion
8, the Office of the Personal Representative will be joined by the 24
Mayors of Kinshasa to raise awareness of the fight against sexual
violence, in particular to promote the 122 hotline for victims
·Over
the next few weeks, The Civic Education, Social Action Service,
(SECAS) will host the workshops for the troops on sexual violence
laws as well as training sessions for FARDC officers based in Kasai
On
3rd July Ms Mabunda will launch a military justice
book including case studies of high-profile military members being
held accountable for their crimes. Prosecuting perpetrators of all
ranks is a critical step in the fight against conflict-related sexual
violence in the DRC.
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