Title: Victims of sexual violence in the DRC will finally benefit from reparation thanks to Fonarev
Introduction :
The delegation from Fonarev (National Fund for Reparations for Victims of Sexual Violence Related to Conflicts and Other Crimes Against the Peace and Security of Humanity) went to Kimpese, in the central Kongo province, to meet victims of violent events that occurred between 2007 and 2009. This visit marks a significant step forward in the fight for reparation and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In this article, we present to you the missions of the Fonarev and the key stages of this repair process.
The role of Fonarev in reparation for victims:
Fonarev is a public service created by decree 23/20 of June 6, 2023 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is responsible for supporting access to justice, reparation, empowerment and community recovery for victims of conflict-related sexual violence and crimes against the peace and security of humanity. Its objective is to correct past mistakes and guarantee victims full reparation.
The first step consists of collecting the expectations and needs of victims in order to harmonize the first collective reparations. These reparations include support for free access to justice and the execution of judicial decisions, the search for the truth about what happened and the provision of material, monetary, physical, socio-economic and psychological reparations. -medical to the victims.
Fonarev’s visit to Kimpese and Kananga:
The Fonarev delegation first went to Kananga, capital of the central Kasai province, where it explained the organization’s missions and listened to victims’ testimonies. This meeting made it possible to understand the expectations and needs of victims, as well as the challenges they face on a daily basis.
The visit to Kimpese, in central Kongo, was an opportunity to meet victims of the Bundu dia Kongo political-religious movement, who were victims of violence between 2007 and 2009. This meeting made it possible to deepen our knowledge of the needs specific to these victims in order to offer appropriate reparations.
Next steps and perspectives:
Following these meetings, Fonarev plans to organize a workshop in the coming weeks, bringing together authorities, victims’ associations and commissioners from the provincial Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission. The objective of this workshop is to establish the agreed terms of the first repairs.
This visit by Fonarev marks an important step forward in the fight against impunity for sexual violence in the DRC. Victims will finally be able to benefit from complete reparation and the support necessary to rebuild themselves and reintegrate into society..
Conclusion :
Fonarev’s visit to Kimpese and Kananga highlighted the needs of victims of sexual violence in the DRC. Thanks to this reparation fund, victims will finally be able to benefit from comprehensive reparation, ranging from free access to justice to holistic care for their physical, psychological and socio-economic needs. This is a significant step forward in the fight for justice and reparation in the DRC, offering victims hope for a better life.