DRC: customary and religious leaders commit to fight against sexual violence
Audio 01:20
Group photo of all the customary chiefs of the DRC at the national forum entitled "Traditions and religions to end gender-based violence", in Lubumbashi, November 4, 2022. © Denise Maheho / RFI
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
This is a first in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Traditional leaders and religious leaders undertake to fight against the practices, at the base, of sexual violence.
They signed an act of commitment, Friday, November 4, in Lubumbashi, at the end of the national forum entitled "Traditions and religions to put an end to gender-based violence".
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With our correspondent in Lubumbashi,
Denise Maheho
The number of cases of sexual violence remains worrying in the country.
According to the Ministry of Gender, Family and Children, in 2021, 97,375 cases were reported against 70,142 cases in 2020, an increase of more than 38%.
More than two hundred people took part in this two-day work, organized by the United Nations Population Fund, in partnership with the Congolese government.
“
We, customary chiefs and religious leaders, declare the following: to abolish all negative habits and customs, among others, child marriage.
The same is true of religious practices that do not promote equality.
»
It was in a room at the Karavia hotel and in front of the country's authorities that the traditional and religious leaders made this commitment.
They recognize that insecurity and armed conflict are not the only factors at the root of sexual violence.
This is the case in the chiefdom of Aliwasa, near Kisangani, where 70% of girls under 15 are victims.
“
There are young people who form groups of 8 to 10 people on the path that leads to the water source and, a girl who passes by, is kidnapped.
These young people take her into the middle of the forest and rape her
”, explains Jean Francis Ilinga, traditional chief of Aliwasa.
For Abdallah Mangala, representative of the Islamic community of Congo, the fight against this scourge requires the application of texts.
“
There are laws that condemn violence against women, but this law is no different from the values and virtues that religious denominations defend
,” he stressed.
Read also: DRC: cases of sexual violence explode in Kasai Central
Diene Keita, UN under-secretary in charge of gender-based violence, for his part called on religious and traditional leaders to respect their commitment to build a better world.
#End of the National #forum for traditional and religious leaders in #Lubumbashi.
Signature of the declaration.
Now it's time to implement the #Lubumbashi commitments @UNFPA_ESARO @UNFPA @PrimatureRDC #LeaderContreVBG pic.twitter.com/bJl5NcEmVH
— UNFPA-DRC (@UNFPARDC) November 5, 2022
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