Project Report
| Nov 18, 2019
Support for Sexual Violence survivors in DR Congo
By Melinda Reed | Project Leader
The two local community-based safe houses operating in South and North Kivu provide medical assistance such as reparative surgeries for rape-related injuries, psycho-social support, information and referral to legal clinics for victims/survivors of sexual and gender based violence.
In an attempt to become auto-sustainable and in order to provide survivors with a reintegration kit, the North Kivu Transit House set up a mushroom farm, engaging survivors in activities related to the maintenance of the farm. Survivors also receive training on mushroom cultivation, including on mushroom spawn production, effective marketing strategies and others.
Raising awareness about reducing SGBV-related stigma remains crucial for survivors and the community. To address this, local partners hold outreach sessions engaging local faith leaders and advocated on the importance of reporting SGBV incidents rather than accepting informal agreements with the perpetrator or the perpetrator’s family.
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Aug 20, 2019
Support for Sexual Violence survivors in DR Congo
By Melinda Reed | Project Leader
The two local community-based safe houses operating in South and North Kivu provide medical assistance, psycho-social support, information and referral to legal clinics for victims/survivors of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV). More than 500 survivors were assisted by our partners in the DRC in the first half of 2019. About a quarter of survivors were referred to a hospital for specialized treatment, most commonly for reparative surgeries for rape-related injuries; and another quarter were referred to a local health center.
Local partners held outreach sessions raising awareness to reduce stigma for SGBV victims and stressing the importance of reporting SGBV incidents rather than accepting informal agreements with the perpetrator or the perpetrator’s family. Partners also held consultations with more than 50 survivors on the issue of sexual violence as part of our ongoing Call it what it is campaign which is developing a civil society declaration to better define sexual violence and to guide legal practitioners.
The North Kivu safe house set up a mushroom farm to provide survivors with a reintegration kit, as well as to help sustain the Transit House. More than 150 survivors received relevant training on mushroom cultivation. Engaging survivors in activities related to the maintenance of the farm contributes to the promotion of women’s access to land, to women’s economic empowerment and to the involvement of conflict-affected populations in the agropastoral sector.
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May 21, 2019
Support for Sexual Violence survivors in DR Congo
By Melinda Reed | Project Leader
In the first quarter of 2019 our partners assisted 491 sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) victims/survivors to access psycho-social and medical support (370 in South Kivu and 347 in North Kivu), of whom 259 (52%) victims/survivors were referred to either a hospital or local health centre for further treatment. Specifically, 128 (26%) victims/survivors were referred to a hospital for specialised treatment, most commonly for reparative surgeries for rape-related injuries; and 131 (26%) victims/survivors were referred to a local health centre.
In addition to medical assistance, the project also provides information and referrals to legal clinics for those who wish to seek redress and justice for the SGBV incidents. In the first quarter of 2019, the project referred 133 victims/survivors to legal clinics in South Kivu and several were supported through the justice process with partners acting as victims’ advocates.
Additionally, 532 community sessions were held, involving 643 participants. The outreach sessions raised awareness within the community to reduce stigma for victims of SGBV, provided information about the services available for victims of these crimes, and stressed the importance of reporting SGBV incidents rather than accepting informal agreements with the perpetrator or the perpetrator’s family.
In addition to direct services, partners held consultations with survivors on the issue of sexual violence as part of our ongoing Call it what it is campaign which is developing a civil society declaration on the definition of sexual violence to guide legal practitioners.
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