Goma, 14 February 2013 – The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) held an awareness-raising session in Goma on Thursday, 14 February 2013, to inform local women on its mandate. Over 400 women, most of them members of Goma-based women's associations, turned up at the event organized by MONUSCO's Public Information Section, with the support of other substantive sections and the Nord-Kivu Brigade of MONUSCO, and of several civil society leaders.

The head of MONUSCO Public Information in Goma, Alexandre Essomé, opened the session with a general presentation on the role of the UN Mission in the DRC.

"In its 12-year presence on the Congolese soil", he said, "the mission, whose name has changed from the French acronym MONUC [UN Mission in DR Congo) to become MONUSCO, has seen the UN Security Council adopt several resolutions to support the Congolese institutions in their fundamental mission of serving the people". Mr. Essomé concluded by explaining how the civilian and military components of MONUSCO work in a complementary fashion to deliver support to the Government of the DRC. Then the heads of the different sections took turns in explaining their specific roles in the implementation of MONUSCO's mandate.

This was followed by exchange and interaction between speakers and participants. The latter expressed their wish to see the mission be given a broader and more robust mandate so as to enable it to enforce peace in a province that has long suffered from armed attacks. For her part, the representative of the Nord Kivu Women's Committee, Ms. Nelly Kabangu, commended MONUSCO for the positive role they play in this province and, on behalf of her colleagues, expressed the wish to see this type of discussion sessions organized more frequently.

Clara Padovan / MONUSCO