Given the general insecurity in the three provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu, including the presence of armed groups, the risk of sexual and gender-based violence remained widespread. Women and girls were the main victims. Women did not have access to the safe rights as their male counterparts, with customs and legal constraints still limiting their opportunities. UNHCR and partners conducted 453 awareness-raising campaigns (20 campaigns in Ituri, 344 in North Kivu and 89 in South Kivu) on the prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence.
In South Kivu, UNHCR’s partner INTERSOS recorded 993 cases of sexual and gender-based violence in 2019, including 510 cases of rape, the majority of which were in the territories of Fizi and Kalehe. In North Kivu, 847 cases were recorded in the territories of Masisi, Rutshuru, Lubero, Beni, and Walikale. In Ituri province, 1,314 cases were identified, including 619 rapes. Of these cases, 1,017 survivors of sexual and gender-based violence incidents received psychosocial counselling.
In Tanganyika province, 249 survivors of sexual and gender-based violence were identified and documented in 2019. Survivors were referred to various care services. Of the total survivors 130 (52%) were referred to psychosocial support services. A total of, 196 survivors of rape were examined and treated in health facilities. 85 victims received the post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) kit within 72 hours. 163 individuals accessed legal services with the support of AVDH, a local NGO.
In line with UNHCR’s policy on protection against sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), 121 actors of 47 State and non-State structures received training to strengthen their knowledge on the importance of PSEA in Tanganyika.
In the Kasai region, 1,632 survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (rape, physical assault, sexual assault, denial of resources, services and opportunities, forced marriage and psychological and emotional abuse) were referred to partner structures for psychosocial assistance.
851 survivors of rape and 187 survivors of physical assault were referred to medical facilities for treatment. Among the rape cases referred, 659 benefited from PEP kits (not all rape victims received the kit as it is effective only within 72 hours of the assault, while in some health centers there were no PEP kits available).
For legal and judicial assistance, 1,044 survivors were referred to the police and the bars of major towns around the Kasai area for legal aid. 833 complaints were filed with the police against the alleged perpetrators of the incidents. 839 cases received legal assistance, leading to 106 convictions and 67 imprisoned perpetrators.
A total of 198 survivors of sexual violence and people at risk benefited from vocational training in sewing, baking, soap-making and cooking, and were provided with an economic reintegration kit. They also benefited from cash-based assistance for three months during the training.