Kinshasa, October 27th, 2025 (CPA).- A human rights defender from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been selected as a finalist for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Action Awards ‘Heroes of Tomorrow’, according to a statement received by the CPA on Monday. « As part of the United Nations SDG Action Campaign, Julienne Lusenge, a Congolese human rights defender who advocates for women, fights violence and builds peace in the DRC, has been selected as a finalist for the Change maker Award for the United Nations SDG Action Awards ‘Heroes of Tomorrow’, » the UN statement said. The document specifies that she was chosen from more than 5,500 applications from 190 countries and territories as part of the flagship ‘UN SDG Action Awards’ program. Julienne Lusenge, a women’s rights activist and prominent figure in the DRC, is known for her commitment to women victims of sexual violence in North Kivu and her denunciation of rape as a weapon of war. According to the same source, Ms. Lusenge has dedicated her life to breaking the silence around sexual violence and working for peace in the DRC. She has provided holistic care to 7,500 survivors and mobilized US$3 million through 600 grants, supporting 260 grassroots women’s groups in 15 provinces.
Professionally, Ms. Lusenge is the Executive Director of the Congolese Women’s Fund (FFC) and co-founder and President of the NGO Solidarité féminine pour la paix et le développement intégral (Women’s solidarity for peace and integral development )(SOFEPADI). It should be noted that the Change Maker Award recognizes exceptional individuals who stand out for their commitment to justice, human rights, equality and peace through action.