Democratic Republic of the Congo
Women in the Democratic Republic of Congo continue to face widespread sexual violence, disease, and displacement in conflict situations arising from clashes between dozens of armed groups. Often, sexual violence and rape are used as terror tactics and weapons of war, and despite the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Women’s Platform for the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework, women are still largely underrepresented in peacebuilding efforts. Additionally, women activists face rape as a form of torture by government actors who disagree with their political activity. The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) aims to provide protection for civilians, including reducing the threat of armed groups perpetrating sexual and gender-based violence, monitoring and reporting on sexual violence and ensuring women’s participation in stabilization and national political dialogue.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Current and Past Recommendations to the UN Security Council (Monthly Action Points)
The population of the DRC is facing multiple public health challenges in addition to COVID-19, including ongoing violence in eastern DRC and widespread displacement (OHCHR, UNHCR). There is an urgent need to address the lack of timely and adequate multi-sectoral assistance for survivors of GBV, including medical, psychosocial, legal and socio-economic support. The Council should request updates from senior UN leadership on the extent to which there have been consultations with women’s civil society organizations in efforts to enact legal reform in the context of a comprehensive reparations law and the addition of domestic violence and marital rape to the penal code. Further, the Council should request updates on the UN’s support to women’s groups in efforts to address GBV and domestic violence, which is increasing due to COVID-19 containment measures (CEDAW/C/COD/CO/8).
