MONUSCO

Taking forward Comprehensive Strategy on Combating Sexual Violence in DRC

Presented by:

Marie Oniwa, Head of Sexual Violence Unit Office of DSRSG –Rule of Law MONUSCO

In response to the scale and severity of conflict-related sexual violence in the DRC, the UN Security Council initiated the Comprehensive Strategy.

Pursuant to the (UN SCR) resolution 1794 (2008), which requested MONUC to “pursue a comprehensive mission-wide strategy, in close cooperation with the United Nations County Team and other partners, to strengthen prevention, protection and response to sexual violence…” (Paragraph 18), the Comprehensive Strategy on Combating Sexual Violence in the DRC was developed through an extensive consultation process.

In order to ensure effective implementation of the Comprehensive Strategy, MONUC created a Sexual Violence Unit under the leadership of the DSRSG-Rule of Law.

SVU also supports the UN implementation of UNSCR 1820/1888/1960 on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (e.g. SG Reports on CRSV).

With UNSCR 1960, the focal points/leadership within UN system became the Office of SRSG- Sexual Violence in Conflict (SVC) with the support of UN Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict (a network of 14 UN entities)

Sexual Violence in Conflict in DRC and the creation of UN Comprehensive Strategy on Combating Sexual Violence in the DRC

Sexual Violence Unit

Democratic Republic of the Congo – the East (Province Orientale, North Kivu, South Kivu)

Source : SVU, Kinshasa

MONUSCO and UNCT continues to support the Government’s efforts to implement this Comprehensive Strategy on Combating Sexual Violence, articulated around five priorities:

1) Fight Against Impunity (Ministry of Justice/UN leading entity UNJHRO);

2) Protection and Prevention (Ministry of Social Affairs/UNHCR);

3) Security Sector Reform (Ministries of Defense and Interior/MONUSCO SSD);

4) Multi-Sectoral Assistance for Survivors (Ministry of Health/UNICEF); and

5) Data & Mapping (Ministry of Gender, Family and Children/UNFPA).

Fight Against Impunity

Coordinated by the Ministry of Justice

supported by the UN Joint Human Rights

Office

Aim:

- Improve access to justice for survivors

- Reinforce and evaluate the judicial referral

and treatment of SV cases, including the

collection and analysis of statistics on the

judicial process

Progress in military justice – Fight against impunity – examples of MONUSCO/UNCT support for the Ministry of Defense, Justice

MONUSCO support to civilian and military prosecutors Joint Investigation Teams (JITs) 30 JITs with magistrates and police offices to investigate sexual violence cases conducted

2010-2011

Prosecution Support Cells (PSCs) Four PSCs established by 2011 to boost the capacity of the Congolese Justice System in the

investigations of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including sexual violenceTechnical advice and logistical support to FARDC military prosecutors and police investigators (MONUSCO Rule of Law, UNDP Rule of Law, MONUSCO military and logistical support , Funding from Canada, the US, UN

Action ToE RoL, PBF, etc.)

Military trials - Mobile CourtsMONUSCO support to military justice holding trials including through the mobile courts Between December 2010 and August 2011 More than 250 trials of elements of national security forces held More than 150 FARDC and Congolese National Police elements sentenced for rape and other

acts of sexual violenceIn 2011, 217 judgments related to sexual violence delivered

Protection and Prevention

Coordinated by the Ministry of Social

Affairs and Human Rights

supported by UNHCR

Aim:

- Contribute to the protection and

prevention of SV and work with local

actors to improve awareness of SV

within communities.

Security Sector Reform Coordinated by the Ministry of Defense, the

Ministry of Interior

supported by MONUSCO – SSR(D)

Aim:

- Train and sensitize FARDC and PNC on the

prevention and reduction of SV

SSR Training modules developed and

validated by all actors under the leadership of the Ministry of Defense/FARDC (FARDC, MONUSCO SSD, EUSEC, GTZ, IOM, etc.)

e.g. 100 Officers (14 female officers) trained as Trainers Apr-Jun 2011

in South Kivu, Bunia, Kisangani

Sexual Violence – South Kivu

Fizi

Kalehe

Shabunda

Mwenga

Source : SVU, Kinshasa

Data and Mapping

Coordinated by Ministry of Gender

the Family and Child supported by

UNFPA

Aim:

Reinforce data collection on sexual

violence for effective analysis and

programmatic response advocacy

MONUSCO and UNCT continues to support the Government’s efforts to implement this Comprehensive Strategy on Combating Sexual Violence, articulated around five priorities:

1) Combating Impunity (Ministry of Justice/UN leading entity UNJHRO);

2) Protection and Prevention (Ministry of Social Affairs/UNHCR);

3) Security Sector Reform (Ministries of Defense and Interior/MONUSCO SSD);

4) Multi-Sectoral Assistance for Survivors (Ministry of Health/UNICEF); and

5) Data & Mapping (Ministry of Gender, Family and Children/UNFPA).

SUPPORTS? Implementation of UNSCR 1325/1820 by the Member States

- Technical/financial contribution to the Government and MONUSCO/UN via Troop Contribution (TCCs – e.g. Urguai contingent in Kimua, NK) Civilian expertise e.g. the Team of Experts on RoL 1888, DPKO staffing, seconded personnel pooled funds to support UN Comprehensive Strategy on Combating Sexual Violence/the Government

implementing the National Strategy on Combating GBV

SRFF Funds: $ 1.7 + 3 Mio

SRFF Funds: $ 4 Mio

SRFF Funds : $ 3.7 Mio

Source : UNFPA

Sexual Violence – North Kivu

Walikale (Luvungi, Mpofi)

Brazza, Ntoto, Brazza

Rutshuru (Rutshuru-

Rubare-Rugari axis)

• High presence of various armed groups: ADF, FDLR, Mai-Mai Tsheka, Mai-Mai Raia Mutomboki, FDC, APCLS, FDN…

• Mass rapes in Walikale (Mpofi area) in July-August 2010, at least 387 civilians raped, incl. 300 women, 23 men, 55 girls and 9 boys)

Masisi

Beni and Lubero

Source : SVU, Kinshasa

Follow-up to the WALIKALE mass rapes

MONUSCO response• Deployment of 3 Joint Investigation Teams in Aug, Sept and Oct. 2010 to assess the security situation, evaluate PoC needs and verify HRV allegations• JPT missions to BRAZZA and NTOTO 21-23 Dec. 2011, KIMUA 28-31 Dec. 2011• JAM missions to KIMUA and NTOTO 09-11 Feb. 2012, the recent mission NTOTO (19-21 Apr. 2012)•additional fact-finding patrols on 14 & 16 Mar. 2012

Government response• FARDC troops deployed to Luvungi• Operation “Fagiya” launched to dismantle the bases of armed groups• Police National Congolaise (PNC) deployed to Luvungi

Humanitarian ResponseMedical and psychosocial assistance for provision of PEP kits and essential medicines (International Medical Corps, ICRC)

Investigation and trial • On 30 August 2010 investigation opened by the Congolese judicial authorities against Mai-Mai Sheka, FDLR, ex CNDP•MONUSCO support for the military prosecutor’s office• First hearing took place on 06 Dec. 2011• Protection of witnesses and victims – PNC deployment project in Luvungi –advocacy RM