States' Actions

You wish to know what the States do to fight against sexual violence in Democratic Republic of Congo, Consult our archives and click on the links in the menu above.

EUROPE

Visit of three European diplomats horrified by the reign of the impunity in RDC.

"Three Human Rights Ambassadors from Spain, Netherlands and Sweden expressed their concerns facing the reign of the impunity in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

During a press briefing held in the Sweden Embassy in Gombe [...] " We visited Goma and we are deeply troubled by the situation of human rights." [...] They encouraged the authorities to put an end to the culture of impunity and to re-establish the state of right in DRC [...] "We are shocked by the sexual violence committed against women in the eastern part of the country", they observed while accusing the DRC Armed Forces elements , the police as well as the militiamen to be the authors of this violence. [...]. Trois diplomates européens horrifiés par le règne de l’impunité en RDC – Le Phare (RDC) - 12/11/2007 http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200711121037.html (in french)

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

National Campaign to Fight Against Sexual Violence in DRC

" Unicef, the Monuc and the Women's Condition Ministry have launch this Saturday November 24 in Bukavu, a National Campaign to Fight Against Sexual Violence committed on women. The National Campaign to Fight Against Sexual Violence that will be launched this Saturday in Bukavu is going to revolve around the theme "Stop the rape now." This campaign is part of the joint action program of the UN system. It is in this context that Unicef, representing the UN agencies, in collaboration with "V-Day",an international organisation, is launching a campaign in favor of the DRC. [...]"

Congo-Kinshasa: Bukavu: Début de la campagne nationale de lutte contre les violences sexuelles – Le Potentiel (RDC) – 23/11/ 2007-
http://www.lepotentiel.com//afficher_article_archive.php?id_article=55809&id_edition=4185&yearID=2007&monthID=11&dayID=23 (in french)

CANADA

Canada supports the fight against sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo
News Release Thursday, March 9, 2006 - OTTAWA

The Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of International Cooperation, today announced that Canada will support a United Nations effort to assist the survivors of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Tens of thousands of civilians, mostly women and girls, have been sexually assaulted or tortured over the course of more than ten years of conflict in the country.

The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will contribute $15M over four years to the United Nations Population Fund's (UNFPA) project against sexual violence. The project will work with other international agencies, non-government organizations and the DRC transitional government to address this systemic problem that plagues the region."

Canada's contribution to this effort will be centred on two of the worst affected provinces in the DRC and will provide direct services to some 15,000 victims of sexual violence," said Minister Verner.

http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/cidaweb/acdicida.nsf/En/JOS-323105017-LKY?OpenDocument

BELGIUM

Security Council: Statement of Mr. Johan Verbeke, Ambassador, Permanent Representive of Belgium to the UN in New York. Debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflicts – In his statement he focus on the scourge of sexual violence as a weapon of war in Eastern RDC. -20/11/2007- http://www.diplomatie.be/en/nu/PartBel/declarations/details.asp?TEXTID=81485

Security Council: Minister De Gucht welcomes the debate on "Women, Peace and Security" in the UN Security Council.

Foreign Minister De Gucht welcomes the initiative taken by the Ghanaian Presidency of the UN Security Council to organise a debate aimed taking up where Security Council resolution 1325 on "Women, Peace and Security" left off. In the speech delivered on his behalf by Special Envoy Pierre Chevalier, Minister De Gucht spotlighted the problems of sexual violence during armed conflicts. "In some conflicts, like the one raging in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, we are seeing gender-based violence used as a full-blown strategy of war", Minister De Gucht said. For this reason, Belgium very strongly urged the international community to pay more systematic attention to this phenomenon and take active steps to tackle this problem. The Security Council must play a leading role in this context. -23/10/2007-
http://www.diplomatie.be/en/nu/news/details.asp?TEXTID=80355

Security Council: Statement of Johan Verbeke, Ambassador, Permanent Representive of Belgium to the UN in New York.

Debate on the Protection of Civilians,Among the elements of Resolution 1674, Belgium attaches particular importance to the fight against violence, above all sexual violence targeting women and minors. We note that such acts of violence have become veritable instruments of war in several conflict situations. It is not only imperative to eradicate such practices, but also, more importantly, to prevent them. As emphasised by Mr Holmes, one key aspect of protecting civilians in armed conflicts is the fight against impunity. A number of legal tools as well as mechanisms for reconciliation already exist at the regional, national and international levels ¿ first among them the International Criminal Court ¿ which can help to ensure that justice is done. Their efficiency undoubtedly has a dissuasive effect on anyone intending to violate civilians' rights in the context of an armed conflict. -22/06/2007- http://www.diplomatie.be/en/nu/PartBel/declarations/details.asp?TEXTID=73415

Minister Belgian Armand De Decker propose the establishment of a Worldwide Coalition Against Sexual Violence in situations of conflicts.

The International Conference on "Sexual violence in the conflicts" was closed this Friday June 23, 2006 in Palais d'Egmont, after three days of intense work which concluded on the adoption of the «Appel de Bruxelles contre les violences sexuelles" (Brussels’ Call for action against sexual violence). The Belgium Development Cooperation Minister Armand De Decker propose to put in place urgently a realWorldwide Coalition Against Sexual Violence in Situations of Conflicts under the leading role of the UN Secretary General, while we can learn lessons from the past as well as from initiatives in progress, mobilizing the UN, the civil society and Regional Security Organisations as well as International Organizations as the European Commission, the African Union, the European Council, the Regional Development Banks or the Interparliamentary Union. -21/12/2007-
http://www.diplomatie.be/fr/press/homedetails.asp?TEXTID=54891 (in french)

French

Petition Without your support, our action will lose momentum. Without our partnership, your action will have little impact. Help us change the direction of the fight against sexual violence in the DRC. Thank you for reading and signing our petition by clicking here.	Skip to Main Content Campuni ya wanawake wa kongomani kwa kupiganisha ubakaji katika jamuhuri ya Congo Congolese Women’s Campaign Against Sexual Violence in the DRC Every day, 40 women are raped in the Eastern Congo. It's a well-known reality that has been documented and reported by media, NGOs, international institutions and States. But nothing changes, sexual violence is still widespread. So what more can be done?
	Homepage DRC Medias NGOs IOs States Campaign Home
	States' Actions You wish to know what the States do to fight against sexual violence in Democratic Republic of Congo, *Consult our archives and click on the links in the menu above. Europe Democratic Republic of Congo Canada Belgium EUROPE Visit of three European diplomats horrified by the reign of the impunity in RDC.* "Three Human Rights Ambassadors from Spain, Netherlands and Sweden expressed their concerns facing the reign of the impunity in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). During a press briefing held in the Sweden Embassy in Gombe [...] " We visited Goma and we are deeply troubled by the situation of human rights." [...] They encouraged the authorities to put an end to the culture of impunity and to re-establish the state of right in DRC [...] "We are shocked by the sexual violence committed against women in the eastern part of the country", they observed while accusing the DRC Armed Forces elements , the police as well as the militiamen to be the authors of this violence. [...]. Trois diplomates européens horrifiés par le règne de l’impunité en RDC – Le Phare (RDC) - 12/11/2007 http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200711121037.html (in french) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO National Campaign to Fight Against Sexual Violence in DRC " Unicef, the Monuc and the Women's Condition Ministry have launch this Saturday November 24 in Bukavu, a National Campaign to Fight Against Sexual Violence committed on women. The National Campaign to Fight Against Sexual Violence that will be launched this Saturday in Bukavu is going to revolve around the theme "Stop the rape now." This campaign is part of the joint action program of the UN system. It is in this context that Unicef, representing the UN agencies, in collaboration with "V-Day",an international organisation, is launching a campaign in favor of the DRC. [...]" Congo-Kinshasa: Bukavu: Début de la campagne nationale de lutte contre les violences sexuelles – Le Potentiel (RDC) – 23/11/ 2007- http://www.lepotentiel.com//afficher_article_archive.php?id_article=55809&id_edition=4185&yearID=2007&monthID=11&dayID=23 (in french) CANADA Canada supports the fight against sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo News Release Thursday, March 9, 2006 - OTTAWA The Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of International Cooperation, today announced that Canada will support a United Nations effort to assist the survivors of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Tens of thousands of civilians, mostly women and girls, have been sexually assaulted or tortured over the course of more than ten years of conflict in the country. The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will contribute $15M over four years to the United Nations Population Fund's (UNFPA) project against sexual violence. The project will work with other international agencies, non-government organizations and the DRC transitional government to address this systemic problem that plagues the region." Canada's contribution to this effort will be centred on two of the worst affected provinces in the DRC and will provide direct services to some 15,000 victims of sexual violence," said Minister Verner. http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/cidaweb/acdicida.nsf/En/JOS-323105017-LKY?OpenDocument BELGIUM Security Council: Statement of Mr. Johan Verbeke, Ambassador, Permanent Representive of Belgium to the UN in New York. Debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflicts – In his statement he focus on the scourge of sexual violence as a weapon of war in Eastern RDC. -20/11/2007- http://www.diplomatie.be/en/nu/PartBel/declarations/details.asp?TEXTID=81485 Security Council: Minister De Gucht welcomes the debate on "Women, Peace and Security" in the UN Security Council. Foreign Minister De Gucht welcomes the initiative taken by the Ghanaian Presidency of the UN Security Council to organise a debate aimed taking up where Security Council resolution 1325 on "Women, Peace and Security" left off. In the speech delivered on his behalf by Special Envoy Pierre Chevalier, Minister De Gucht spotlighted the problems of sexual violence during armed conflicts. "In some conflicts, like the one raging in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, we are seeing gender-based violence used as a full-blown strategy of war", Minister De Gucht said. For this reason, Belgium very strongly urged the international community to pay more systematic attention to this phenomenon and take active steps to tackle this problem. The Security Council must play a leading role in this context. -23/10/2007- http://www.diplomatie.be/en/nu/news/details.asp?TEXTID=80355 Security Council: Statement of Johan Verbeke, Ambassador, Permanent Representive of Belgium to the UN in New York. Debate on the Protection of Civilians,Among the elements of Resolution 1674, Belgium attaches particular importance to the fight against violence, above all sexual violence targeting women and minors. We note that such acts of violence have become veritable instruments of war in several conflict situations. It is not only imperative to eradicate such practices, but also, more importantly, to prevent them. As emphasised by Mr Holmes, one key aspect of protecting civilians in armed conflicts is the fight against impunity. A number of legal tools as well as mechanisms for reconciliation already exist at the regional, national and international levels ¿ first among them the International Criminal Court ¿ which can help to ensure that justice is done. Their efficiency undoubtedly has a dissuasive effect on anyone intending to violate civilians' rights in the context of an armed conflict. -22/06/2007- http://www.diplomatie.be/en/nu/PartBel/declarations/details.asp?TEXTID=73415 Minister Belgian Armand De Decker propose the establishment of a Worldwide Coalition Against Sexual Violence in situations of conflicts. The International Conference on "Sexual violence in the conflicts" was closed this Friday June 23, 2006 in Palais d'Egmont, after three days of intense work which concluded on the adoption of the «Appel de Bruxelles contre les violences sexuelles" (Brussels’ Call for action against sexual violence). The Belgium Development Cooperation Minister Armand De Decker propose to put in place urgently a realWorldwide Coalition Against Sexual Violence in Situations of Conflicts under the leading role of the UN Secretary General, while we can learn lessons from the past as well as from initiatives in progress, mobilizing the UN, the civil society and Regional Security Organisations as well as International Organizations as the European Commission, the African Union, the European Council, the Regional Development Banks or the Interparliamentary Union. -21/12/2007- http://www.diplomatie.be/fr/press/homedetails.asp?TEXTID=54891 (in french) French Navigation Emergency
	(c) 2008 - Coalition for Women's Rights in Conflict Situations

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