Dungu, 4 December 2013 - Within the framework of a 16-day activism on gender-based violence scheduled from 25 November to 10 December 2013, the Child Protection Section of the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) jointly with the Gender office and UNHCR organized a workshop on gender-based violence for 50 secondary school boys and girls in Dungu with a view to discussing and addressing their concerns on gender-based violence in their community, with special focus on violence against girls.

In his opening remarks, the Deputy Administrator of Dungu territory invited participants to use their newly acquired skills to good purpose. The Chief of the Dungu Gender Office, for his part, highlighted the necessity for teenagers to fight against violence on women and girls.

MONUSCO Child Protection took the opportunity to explain some aspects of its mandate such as monitoring and reporting of violence against children in armed conflicts as well as fighting impunity resulting from violence committed by military members against children in armed conflicts, including sexual violence.

After hearing presentations from UNICEF, UNHCR, and the Human Rights section of MONUSCO in Dungu, the participants voiced their concerns over the lack of follow-up on cases of sexual violence against girls, including forced marriages. Two videos on sexual violence and other forms of gender-based misconduct in schools and in armed conflict situations were then shown. At the end of the workshop the students received gifts from the Child Protection section, UNICEF, UNHCR, the UN Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) and MONUSCO Public Information Office in Dungu.