Article: News on the meeting between the First Lady of the DRC and the Office of the Under-Secretary of the United Nations
The First Lady of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, visited New York as part of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly. During her stay, she had the opportunity to meet the Office of the United Nations Under-Secretary in charge of conflict-related sexual violence.
During this meeting, Lucien Lundula Lolatui, Director General of the National Fund for Reparation of Victims of Sexual Violence in Conflicts and Crimes Against the Peace and Security of Humanity (FONAREV), presented the roadmap of the structure as well as the actions already undertaken. These include the commemoration of Genocost on August 2 and a recent tour of five provinces of the DRC, namely North and South Kivu, Kasai Central, Ituri and Kongo Central. This tour allowed FONAREV to establish direct contact with victims and other personalities involved in the fight against sexual violence, notably Nobel Prize winner Denis Mukwege.
Pramilla Patten, the United Nations Under-Secretary in charge of conflict-related sexual violence, assured FONAREV of her support and stressed the importance of finding collaborative synergies. Experts from FONAREV and those who worked on reparations in Iraq, Kosovo and Guinea will establish a collaborative framework in order to exchange good practices.
This meeting between First Lady Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi and the Office of the Under-Secretary of the United Nations is an important step in the fight against sexual violence in the DRC. It demonstrates the country’s commitment to fighting this scourge and providing reparations to victims. Collaboration with the United Nations and other international actors is crucial to ensure that justice is served and those responsible for these crimes are held to account.
The First Lady and FONAREV will continue to work closely with the Office of the United Nations Under-Secretary and other international partners to strengthen their actions and provide concrete assistance to victims of sexual violence in the DRC. It is by joining forces that we can truly put an end to these atrocities and build a better future for all.
Sources:
– Article link: [Article title](article link)
– Article link: [Article title](article link)