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Violence in Congo has displaced millions and left trails of deaths and destruction. |
A cabinet member in the Democratic Republic of Congo has declared that the country is determined to end sexual violence against women.
Kinshasa will use international donations in funds in order to help end sexual violence against women, Congolese Minister of Family Affairs and Children Marie-Ange Lukiana said on Sunday.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged that the United States would donate $17 million in order to help rehabilitate sexual assault victims during her recent visit to a refugee camp in the eastern Congo.
"Regarding the $17 million, yes it is in operation and the money is already at the USAID (United States Agency for International Development), and a part of the money is in operation with an international NGO ... and in a program named HOPE," Lukiana added.
"The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, with partners, reviewed a national strategy to combat the violence and then in that (action) the government put in place a machinery which is a first national agency for combating sexual violence and we have the fund for the protection of women and protection of children," VOA News quoted her as saying on Sunday.
However, she warned that sexual violence could not be ended until lasting peace is established in the country, which has been ravaged by years of internal wars and cross-border conflicts over power in which rape is used as a weapon to demoralize the victims.
"There is a diplomatic action President [Joseph] Kabila is doing and then we have operation ... one and two to sit with the neighboring countries so that we can have peace in the DRC. That is really the main thing because without peace we cannot do anything," Lukiana said.
The eastern Congo has experienced interminable cycles of violence since the so-called Great War of Africa began in 1998.
Thousands of women have been raped in the war, which has dragged on for over a decade and left over 5.4 million people dead.
GHN/SS/HGL
Kinshasa will use international donations in funds in order to help end sexual violence against women, Congolese Minister of Family Affairs and Children Marie-Ange Lukiana said on Sunday.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged that the United States would donate $17 million in order to help rehabilitate sexual assault victims during her recent visit to a refugee camp in the eastern Congo.
"Regarding the $17 million, yes it is in operation and the money is already at the USAID (United States Agency for International Development), and a part of the money is in operation with an international NGO ... and in a program named HOPE," Lukiana added.
"The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, with partners, reviewed a national strategy to combat the violence and then in that (action) the government put in place a machinery which is a first national agency for combating sexual violence and we have the fund for the protection of women and protection of children," VOA News quoted her as saying on Sunday.
However, she warned that sexual violence could not be ended until lasting peace is established in the country, which has been ravaged by years of internal wars and cross-border conflicts over power in which rape is used as a weapon to demoralize the victims.
"There is a diplomatic action President [Joseph] Kabila is doing and then we have operation ... one and two to sit with the neighboring countries so that we can have peace in the DRC. That is really the main thing because without peace we cannot do anything," Lukiana said.
The eastern Congo has experienced interminable cycles of violence since the so-called Great War of Africa began in 1998.
Thousands of women have been raped in the war, which has dragged on for over a decade and left over 5.4 million people dead.
GHN/SS/HGL
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