Support 1000 Sexual Violence survivors in DR Congo

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.

Links:

• Call it what it is Campaign
• Women's Initiatives for Gender Justice