Call for an Independent Commission on the Crisis of Sexual Violence in Congo

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Call on President Kabila to create an Independent Commission on the Crisis of Sexual Violence in Eastern Congo

MJPC announced today that it is calling on the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo to establish an independent national commission on the crisis of sexual violence in eastern Congo to examine and report publicly the real causes of the persistence of violence against women in this part of the country.

"We call on President Kabila to appoint an independent commission of eminent personalities to examine the real causes of the persistence of violence against women and girls in Eastern Congo, increasingly making the country to become known as "the rape capital of the world"and to provide a complete report with recommendations to the President, parliarment, and of course to the Congolese people" said the Executive Director of MJPC, Amede Kyubwa.

In fact, President Kabila himself acknowledged in one of his speeches to the nation that the sexual violence that Congolese women continue to endure despite the gradual return of peace, "is an extremely painful for all Congolese," because, he said, "these women are our mothers, sisters and daughters whose lives are shattered, broken and deprived of all hope"

However according to Mr. Kyubwa,"though President Kabila denounced these acts repeatedly, many questions remain unanswered in terms of why this widespread sexual violence against women and girls in eastern Congo continues and how to eradicate it effectively. This commission could provide the establishment of facts and serious analysis lacking for a long time in this crisis of sexual violence in the east.

MJPC maintains that the said commission should also examine why, despite the progressive law on the protection of women adopted by Parliament in 2006 and the reduction of major combat in certain areas of the East, many women continue to live in constant fear of multiple acts of sexual violence. These acts are often committed by more than one assailant in the presence of spouses, children, parents or other family members causing trauma, humiliation and permanent stress to survivors without sparing the members of their families.

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About the MJPC
MJPC is a nonprofit organization that works to defend and promote justice and peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo with particular emphasis to the east where thousands of innocent civilians, including children and women continue to be victims of gross violations of human rights while the armed groups responsible for these crimes remain unpunished.

For more information on MJPC and its activities, visit http://www.mjpcongo.org or email info@mjpcongo.org