Matadi, 13 March 2013 – The United Nations joint office in Bas-Congo province, through the Human Rights section, organized a conference-debate to make an assessment of sexual violence in the province as well as implementation of the legislation in this regard.

The conference-debate was organized by the United Nations Human Rights office (BCNUDH) as part of the International Women's Day and attended by the Secretary whose task consists in mobilizing necessary synergy to combat sexual violence. There were altogether sixty participants, 70% of whom women from civil society organizations, NGOs, lawyers' and magistrates' associations.

In his introductory remarks, the coordinator of the joint human rights office in Bas-Congo, Tettekpoe Assiongbon called for the breaking up of the wall of silence through denouncing rape cases. The key speaker, Matadi prosecutor, Jean Kapita predicated his arguments on the mystery surrounding sex in general, the legislation on sexual violence and the status of the implementation of the said legislation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The majority of the questions raised revolved around release on bail, provisional release and out-of-court settlement of rape cases. He however regretted the fact that justice is still silent on the out-of-court settlement issue.

Maïmouna Traoré/ MONUSCO