DRC: Care for nearly 100,000 survivors of GBV in 2025 (UNFPA)

Kinshasa, November 24^th, 2025 (CPA). – Nearly one hundred thousand (100,000) survivors of gender-based violence have been cared for in 2025, according to the preliminary report of the annual review of the cooperation programme between the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), launched on Monday in Kinshasa. « This exercise aims to review the implementation of activities in 2025 with a view to defining strategic directions for 2026. We welcome the significant progress made, including the repair of 316 cases of obstetric fistula, more than 168,000 births assisted by skilled personnel and the care of nearly 100,000 survivors of gender-based violence, » has declared Alain Akpadji, UNFPA representative in DRC. ‘The exercise we are embarking on today is a key moment of self-assessment and strategic planning, essential to the good governance of our programme,’ has added John Kukulu, General Secretary of the Ministry in charge of Planning. He has expressed his gratitude to UNFPA, the ministries involved and all partners for their commitment alongside the government. Mr Akpadji has also highlighted the importance of the agreement signed between the government and UNFPA. ‘This agreement aims to guarantee sustainable domestic funding for family planning and maternal health medicines, amounting to $6 million per year over the next four years,’ he has said. He has added that the review will focus on assessing progress made at the central and provincial levels through the work of 18 operational partners. ‘The objective is to identify constraints and success factors and to incorporate the lessons learned into the 2026 planning cycle, which is structured around the three transformative outcomes of UNFPA: zero avoidable maternal deaths, zero unmet need for family planning, and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices,’ Mr Akpadji has concluded. The cooperation between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is part of the programme to support human development, maternal and reproductive health, and the fight against gender-based violence. Each year, an annual review is organised to assess the activities carried out, measure the progress made and identify the challenges to be addressed. This approach strengthens strategic planning and ensures effective monitoring of results at both central and provincial levels, involving sectorial ministries and operational partners.