Universal Day of the Elimination of Violence Against Women

More and more minors are becoming victims of violence
 

“Early and forced marriages, unwanted pregnancies linked to sexual abuse, unsafe abortion practices of pregnancy (IVG): in the DRC, and particularly in South Kivu, gender-based violence is everywhere. And it is not decreasing, or not very noticeably. We know that from an OCHA report in 2020, GBV increased by 86% that year compared to 2019, this violence concerns more and more minors and young girls under 18 years of age are becoming pregnant. In the face of this violence, stigmatization and lack of care are still common for many victims,” explains Eric Wynants, deputy coordinator of DotW in DRC, who has coordinated the project to combat violence in Panzi.

In South Kivu, a region marked by ongoing conflict and an alarming humanitarian situation, rape has long been used as a weapon of war by the warring parties. Today, rape has spread in Congolese society, particularly through demobilized former child soldiers, militiamen, ex-rebels and various armed groups. The victims seem to be increasingly young, sometimes under the age of ten. This violence is in addition to other violence committed in a domestic or criminal context. In order to help the victims of this violence, DotW intervenes in the territory of Uvira and in the city of Bukavu. Our organization carries out community prevention activities, offers health care and provides psychosocial support, promotes the reintegration of victims into the workforce and refers them for legal advice. Given the tense security situation and the lack of humanitarian organizations present in certain areas, the intervention of DotW is essential.
 

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Universal Day of the Elimination of Violence Against Women

More and more minors are becoming victims of violence
 

“Early and forced marriages, unwanted pregnancies linked to sexual abuse, unsafe abortion practices of pregnancy (IVG): in the DRC, and particularly in South Kivu, gender-based violence is everywhere. And it is not decreasing, or not very noticeably. We know that from an OCHA report in 2020, GBV increased by 86% that year compared to 2019, this violence concerns more and more minors and young girls under 18 years of age are becoming pregnant. In the face of this violence, stigmatization and lack of care are still common for many victims,” explains Eric Wynants, deputy coordinator of DotW in DRC, who has coordinated the project to combat violence in Panzi.

In South Kivu, a region marked by ongoing conflict and an alarming humanitarian situation, rape has long been used as a weapon of war by the warring parties. Today, rape has spread in Congolese society, particularly through demobilized former child soldiers, militiamen, ex-rebels and various armed groups. The victims seem to be increasingly young, sometimes under the age of ten. This violence is in addition to other violence committed in a domestic or criminal context. In order to help the victims of this violence, DotW intervenes in the territory of Uvira and in the city of Bukavu. Our organization carries out community prevention activities, offers health care and provides psychosocial support, promotes the reintegration of victims into the workforce and refers them for legal advice. Given the tense security situation and the lack of humanitarian organizations present in certain areas, the intervention of DotW is essential.
 

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Testimonial of two survivors of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo

“I tell my daughters: refuse the gift of an unknown man, who will inevitably expect something in return.”

Myriam (not her real name), widow, mother of three children, from Makobola, says: “It was July 2021. I was working in the fields. I was sexually assaulted by three men when I was alone. I went home drained, down and distressed. I didn’t speak anymore, neither to my children, nor to the village chief. I didn’t leave the house for days which alerted Bobylia, the focal point of the protective community. I confided in him.

Myriam then went to the Makobola health center, supported by DotW.
“When I arrived, I couldn’t sleep, I felt guilty, I was discouraged. Thanks to the psychological support I received from DotW psychosocial assistant, I was finally able to talk to my children.”

Today, having become a member of the ‘protective community’, a DotW project, Myriam is raising awareness about sexual violence among other Makobola residents.
“I advise victims of violence to go to medical facilities. I also teach my daughters to be careful, to avoid insecure places, and that they should not accept gifts from foreign men, who will inevitably expect something in return.”
 
Photography

© Caroline Thirion
 
 

The post Testimonial of two survivors of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo appeared first on Doctors of the World.

Testimonial of two survivors of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo

“I tell my daughters: refuse the gift of an unknown man, who will inevitably expect something in return.”

Myriam (not her real name), widow, mother of three children, from Makobola, says: “It was July 2021. I was working in the fields. I was sexually assaulted by three men when I was alone. I went home drained, down and distressed. I didn’t speak anymore, neither to my children, nor to the village chief. I didn’t leave the house for days which alerted Bobylia, the focal point of the protective community. I confided in him.

Myriam then went to the Makobola health center, supported by DotW.
“When I arrived, I couldn’t sleep, I felt guilty, I was discouraged. Thanks to the psychological support I received from DotW psychosocial assistant, I was finally able to talk to my children.”

Today, having become a member of the ‘protective community’, a DotW project, Myriam is raising awareness about sexual violence among other Makobola residents.
“I advise victims of violence to go to medical facilities. I also teach my daughters to be careful, to avoid insecure places, and that they should not accept gifts from foreign men, who will inevitably expect something in return.”
 
Photography

© Caroline Thirion
 
 

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Doctors of the World response to humanitarian crisis in Eastern DRC

The Democratic Republic of Congo is facing a multitude of compounding crises with serious consequences for the civilian population.
 
Political instability, chronic conflict, and natural hazards, like volcanic activity and flooding, have left a large part of the population in need of humanitarian assistance. 

Doctors of the World (DotW) has drawn its attention to one region where populations are left vulnerable to a variation of health and security disasters. In the Fizi Highlands, civilians have found themselves trapped between two conflicting territories: the Minembwe and Itombwe. The region has endured violence and armed conflict for over a decade, however in the spring of 2020, there was an escalation in violence between the Mai-Mai and the Banyamulenge communities. Civilians have been further targeted as human rights organizations report cases of murder, rape, burning of villages, and looting of livestock. In response, the Armed Forces of the DRC have mobilized in the areas of violence, in order to put an end to the fights between armed groups.

The consequences of the conflict have also resulted in forced displacement, lack of access to essential services like healthcare and sanitation, as well as impacted the population’s food security. The situation remains tense as this conflict has caused division of the population by ethnicity, and individuals are forced to continuously move between territories to avoid further violence. According to OCHA, about 39,700 persons (approx. 7,940 households) were displaced during the violence in this region. Many internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been separated from their homes since 2019 and returns remain very low. 

In response to these conflicts, Doctor of the World ran a project, funded by USAID, that used multi-sectoral lifesaving interventions targeting the most vulnerable conflict-affected individuals in Itombwe and Minembwe territories in. The sectors of focus for this project included health, nutrition, water, hygiene and sanitation (WASH), and protection.

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Doctors of the World: Community Approach to Health and Wellbeing

Democratic Republic of Congo 
Political turmoil, as well as chronic conflicts and humanitarian crises due to insecurity and violence, has deeply impacted the wellbeing of many in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The additional environmental hazards, including flooding and volcanic activity, has put many at risk without any access to care. In certain regions, the violence against civilians and the cases of human rights violations have increased significantly since 2020. The cases of gender-based violence have also increased by 73% since the previous year. 

In Kinshasa, the capital city of DRC, DotW has partnered with the local NGO Afia Mama. This NGO is a prominent figure at the community level and uses its platform to advocate for human rights and better sexual reproductive health (SRH), especially for women facing unwanted pregnancies. 

Through its partnership with Afia Mama, DotW has formulated a program that strengthens the supply of health services based on an approach adapted to young people, community mobilization, and advocacy, for legal access to family planning services. It is a staunch supporter of the Maputo Protocol, an international agreement that guarantees women’s rights, including  social and political equality with men, and improved autonomy in their health decisions and the termination of female genital mutilation. The program also works to bring schools together, to inform adolescents about their SRH and raises awareness about risks associated with clandestine abortions. Its primary goal is to reduce mortality linked to unsafe abortions that occuring in these communities. 

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Addressing Sexual Violence in Eastern DRC – Testimonial

In 2017, Doctors of the World Belgium launched the Protective Communities project in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which focused on empowering women and addressing gender-based violence. The results show how effective the help and support of the local community is in the fight against sexual abuse. In 2021, we further expanded our project to Uvira, where women suffer a high rate of sexual violence that goes unaddressed.

Through its nine health centers in Uvira, DotW contributes to offering medical and psychological care to victims of sexual violence. Our doctors provide care and treatment, as well as collect physical evidence to enable them to file a complaint. Our psychologists help them recover from the psychological trauma and regain their self-confidence and self-esteem.

Renilde is a midwife and nurse in Uvira, Democratic Republic of Congo. Take a moment to read her testimony.
 

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The Humble Lion

Samaki mkunje angali mbichi – Bend the fish when it is still wet and fresh Mauridi Masumbuko admits that he lives by this Swahili proverb, and to hear him talk about his flexibility and adaptability you would think he had a lifetime under his belt to fully comprehend this invaluable lesson.  But Mauridi, known as…

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