**Fatshimetrie: Awareness campaign against gender-based violence in the DRC**
In the heart of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), an awareness campaign was launched in partnership with the United States, Japan and South Korea to combat gender-based violence. This major issue, included in the international human rights agenda, finds particular resonance here given the context of persistent tensions and conflicts in certain regions of the country.
The US Ambassador to the DRC, Lucy Tamlyn, underlined her country’s strong commitment to supporting local efforts to end violence against women and girls. She highlighted the importance of gender equity and equality as the foundations of American foreign policy, recalling that the fight against gender-based violence is an absolute priority.
The statistics are alarming: a significant number of women and girls in the DRC are victims of sexual and gender-based violence, a scourge that is plaguing societies at all levels. In the eastern region of the country, plagued by decades of conflict and instability, gender-based violence is particularly prevalent, fueled by a climate of war and aggression.
The Marie-Antoinette Women’s Center (CFMA) in Kinshasa plays a crucial role in preventing and caring for survivors of this violence. However, its resources remain limited to carry out its mission. The Director General, Marie-Colette Ikondojoko, is making an urgent appeal for solidarity and support from partners in order to strengthen the center’s action and ensure adequate care for victims.
At the close of the campaign, young girls and boys committed to actively fighting against gender-based violence, marking an important step towards raising awareness and mobilizing Congolese society as a whole. This initiative, led under the theme “Let’s stop violence against women and girls”, has raised collective awareness and strengthened solidarity.
By being part of an approach to respecting the fundamental rights of all, this awareness campaign in the DRC demonstrates the need for continued and coordinated mobilization to put an end to gender-based violence. Far from being inevitable, this violence can be fought with determination, commitment and solidarity. It is up to each and every one of us to take part in this fight for a future where equality and respect for human dignity will prevail.