Kindu, 19 November 2012 - The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), through its Public Information Office in Kindu, Maniema province, on 15 November 2012, organized an awareness-raising campaign on sexual violence for the women of Lokando, a town located some 60 km from the provincial capital Kindu.

The participants were inducted on the various forms of sexual violence and encouraged to denounce the perpetrators of such heinous acts, to reject amiable settlements, and instead resort to the judiciary structures in place to handle these violations.

Martha Biongo, the team leader behind this workshop, gave the women who are organized in a soap manufacturing cooperative a bulk of products and tools to help them in their business.

Initially trained by the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA), the women have formed a committee to help generate revenues, and eventually open an account with a larger cooperative in the capital Kindu.

Dieudonné Tumba Mobile/ MONUSCO