DRC: line 122 for victims of sexual violence seeking funding

Audio 02:19

DRC, May 2021: Twelve operators take turns day and night at 122, the line for victims of sexual violence, to answer more than 10,000 calls per month.

© Sonia Rolley / RFI

By: Sonia Rolley Follow

8 mins

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the free line to denounce sexual violence, 122, has not been funded since May 1.

This line was relaunched just six months ago at the instigation of President Tshisekedi's special advisor on sexual violence.

Publicity

From our special correspondent in Kinshasa,

Four operators, day and night, overwhelmed with calls since the launch of a campaign to promote line 122 by SMS in Kinshasa.

Many calls are requests for information or denunciations which relate to various abuses: rape, forced marriages, domestic violence, beaten children or even requests on contraceptive techniques.

An operator explains procedures by telephone to his interlocutor.

Subject of the appeal: “ 

A 9 year old girl who was abused two weeks ago.

It was the child's father who called earlier who needed legal assistance.

The executioner was arrested and the police gave money to have him released.

The victim's father does not have enough resources to initiate legal proceedings.

He didn't even know 122 existed.

 "

Raise awareness among government and partners

By calling 122, victims can get free care. But since May 1, the call center has no more funding. To raise awareness among the government and partners, Special Advisor Chantal Mulop brought in the new Minister of Communication Patrick Muyaya, a Member of Parliament and the media to promote it.

Karyne Galoula, head of the call center makes the visit. " 

Here, it is the call center of the open line 122. Every day, we receive calls, on average 600 calls per day

 ", said the manager to Patrick Muyaya. Facing the media and the minister, she reminds us: “ 

We would like them to support, to get their hands dirty because we are encountering a lot of difficulties. Currently, we are short of funding. That is why we are asking the government for help to support these initiatives.

 "

Chantal Mulop, special advisor to Félix Tshisekedi in charge of the fight against sexual violence, calls for the government to take charge of this line.

“ 

We have about 10,000 phone calls a month

.

And the majority do not come only from the East, it is really Kasai, Kinshasa ... often women call after a rape, because they want to have information on the abortion pill, things like that ... we have ( also) phone calls, because the woman is in a situation of danger or panic, because she really does not know how to get out of it, after being beaten by a man, by a spouse ...

"

there is a time when donors have to stop funding.

It must now be up to the government to take charge of this.

Chantal Mulop, special advisor to Félix Tshisekedi in charge of the fight against sexual violence

And the counselor insists on the quantity of files to be processed and calls received.

The calls are handled by operators, they are twelve 24 hours a day and the steps to be taken are "

extremely long

".

All of this comes at a cost and it is now up to the government to pay for it.

Minister Muyaya promised to become an ally in raising awareness around the fight against sexual violence and to report all these financial difficulties to the Prime Minister.

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  • DRC