Sexual violence in the DRC: Implementation of a strategic plan on reparations recommended

Kinshasa, July 2^nd, 2025 (CPA). – The implementation of a strategic plan on reparations for sexual violence during the conflict period in the Democratic Republic of Congo was recommended on Wednesday in Kinshasa during a hearing at the office of the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of National Defense. « It was important for the head of National Defense to receive Ms Pramilia, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (…) There is a need to put in place a strategic plan on reparations in accordance with the United Nations resolution on violence against women and girls, with a view to bringing justice to these victims and addressing this barbaric behavior, » said Chantal Yelu, Coordinator of the Head of State’s specialized service in charge of youth, the fight against violence against women and human trafficking.  After the hearing, Ms Yelu deplored the fact that these cases of violence are becoming increasingly widespread in conflict zones, particularly in the eastern part of the country, where the number of victims is increasing every day. Hence the urgent need to put this strategic plan in place.  The meeting was attended by the President of the High Military Court and the First Deputy Commander in charge of operations and intelligence for the civic education and social action service of the DRC Armed Forces. Earlier, Ms Pramila Patten had praised the vision of the National Fund for Victims’ Reparations (Fonarev) during her speech on the second day of the ‘National Forum on the Right to Reparation in the DRC’, held from July 1^st to 4^th in Kinshasa. ‘I welcome the vision of Fonarev and the attention given to identified victims living in camps for displaced persons in provinces where conflicts are active, through a mechanism of temporary responses,’ she said, before expressing her hope that this program would be transparent and accountable in ensuring that funds and aid actually reach the victims.