Martin Kobler, Head of MONUSCO, and Diene Keita, UNFPA Representative in the DRC, reaffirm the need to protect women and adolescents in emergency situations

Kinshasa - 11 July 2015 "MONUSCO remains strongly committed to provide its support to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo to ensure the protection of vulnerable populations, particularly women and young girls in the context of security and humanitarian crisis in the eastern DRC, where tens of thousands of persons are still internally displaced.", stated Martin Kobler, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for the DRC, on the occasion of the celebration of the World Population Day (WPD) which, this year, focuses on vulnerable populations in emergencies.

Indeed, as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) pointed out, no excuse is acceptable when it comes to protecting human life, especially that of women. Protecting a woman’s life must be a priority in any circumstance and at all times for the government as well as the international community. Therefore, the DRC government is strongly encouraged to intensify its efforts to further strengthen and consolidate the initiatives already taken for the protection and promotion of the rights of women and adolescents, especially in the areas affected by war and instability in the eastern part of the country.

"The vulnerability of women and girls in crisis situations is well established. The United Nations Population Fund is strongly committed to the protection of this category of the population, providing a consistent and continuous support, especially in the areas of hygiene and health care, with a particular emphasis on the respect for their dignity and the promotion of their safety and fundamental human rights", stressed Diene Keita, UNFPA Representative in the DRC.

Note to the Editors:

In 1989, the Executive Board of the United Nations Population Fund recommended that 11 July be observed by the international community as World Population Day, a day to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues. The theme of this year's World Population Day is Vulnerable Populations in Emergencies.