1. International Conference PROMOTING GENDER TO BUILD A LASTING PEACE: REFLECTING ON THE LATIN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE April 25 and 26, 2012 Buenos Aires
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

2. Sexual Violence in Conflict in DRC and the creation of UN Comprehensive Strategy on Combating Sexual Violence in the DRC Sexual Violence Unit
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)

3. Democratic Republic of the Congo
– the East (Province Orientale, North Kivu, South Kivu)
Source : SVU, Kinshasa

4. 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).

5. 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

6. 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
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 violence
Technical 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 Courts
MONUSCO 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 violence
In 2011, 217 judgments related to sexual violence delivered

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

10. Sexual Violence – South Kivu
Kalehe
Mwenga
Shabunda
Fizi
Source : SVU, Kinshasa

11. 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

12. Implementation of UNSCR 1325/1820 by the Member States
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

13. SRFF Funds: $ 1.7 + 3 Mio SRFF Funds: $ 4 Mio SRFF Funds : $ 3.7 Mio
Source : UNFPA

14. Sexual Violence – North Kivu
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)
Beni and Lubero
Rutshuru (Rutshuru-Rubare-Rugari axis)
Masisi
Walikale (Luvungi, Mpofi)
Brazza, Ntoto, Brazza
Source : SVU, Kinshasa

15. Follow-up to the WALIKALE mass rapes
MONUSCO response
Deployment of 3 Joint Investigation Teams in Aug, Sept and Oct to assess the security situation, evaluate PoC needs and verify HRV allegations
JPT missions to BRAZZA and NTOTO Dec. 2011, KIMUA Dec. 2011
JAM missions to KIMUA and NTOTO 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 Response
Medical 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