Bukavu, 18 May 2011 - A new operation code named "Akikisha Usalama," or "Peace by any Means" was launched on 12 May 2011 by the Sud-Kivu Brigade of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO). The operation which is aimed at protecting the civilian population, was informed by the absence of the National Armed Forces (FARDC) in areas where they departed following their current restructuring and training…
Kisangani, 16 May 2011 - In Province Orientale's territory of Opala, district of Tshopo, nine Congolese police officers were condemned to jail terms ranging from twelve months to life imprisonment, after a military court found them guilt of crimes against humanity including mass rape, looting and destruction of civilian property. The nine defendants, including two condemned in absentia, were on trial from 9 to 14 May to answer to charges of rape…
Bukavu, 17 May 2011 - Magistrates of the office of the public prosecutor in the district court of Bukavu and the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) have been working hand in hand to obtain the release of 117 unlawfully detained inmates in Bukavu. MONUSCO's sections of Human Rights, Rule of Law, and UNPOL, in collaboration with the Bukavu office of the public prosecutor have been undertaking weekly…
Bukavu, 10 May 2011 – In Sud-Kivu province, the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo (MONUSCO) is helping the National Independent Electoral Commission (French acronym CENI) in its efforts to mobilize large numbers of voters to register in the up-coming elections. Nearly one month into the process of reviewing and updating electoral lists, out of 2 009 336 potential voters in Sud-Kivu, some 855 840 Congolese have registered…
Prepared by Juliet Kerr with contributions from Dr Patrick Ball on behalf of the MONUSCO-Sexual Violence Unit, December 2010. What exists today in the DRC is a weakened comprehension of the dynamics of sexual violence. This derives from the numerous often unfounded statistics recycled by the media which fail to provide rigorous knowledge about the population-level patterns of abuse.
Kinshasa, 9 May 2011 – The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) sponsored a theater festival involving school children at both primary and secondary levels in Kinshasa. The theater competition ended with the Vocational School of Barumbu district as the clear winner among four finalists competing after a pre-selection process from the capital's 24 districts, which kicked off in March. The…
Bunia, 12 May 2011 – The UN Joint Human Rights Office (BCNUDH), and the Public Information and Electoral Divisions organized a training workshop around the theme"Human Rights and Elections" to raise awareness among members of Human Rights NGOs, as well as human rights activists and journalists in the district of Ituri, North-Kivu province, on the upcoming elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The capacity-building training, which took…
Beni, 10 May 2011 - The Nepalese Battalion based in Beni, in the province of Nord-Kivu, East of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), erected on 8 May 2011, an information board on a large stone at the Equator line, in order to mark the area. The mark was initially put in place in 2007 by the 2nd/VIII Indian Battalion of the 15th Maratha Light Infantry based in Beni at the time. The Equator line is situated at 20 km on the road axis Butembo…
Kisangani, 4 May 2011 – Two water fountains were inaugurated in the neighborhood of Lubunga, Kisangani, by the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), and handed over to the local authorities in an official ceremony on 3 May. The two water sources were rehabilitated as part of MONUSCO's Quick Impact Projects designed as a response to the population's most direct and pressing needs. MONUSCO's Electoral…
Goma, 7 May 2011 – Radio Okapi organized a workshop to empower Congolese women journalists on the coverage of DRC's upcoming elections. The workshop took place at the headquarters of the United Nations Stabilization Mission for the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) in Goma on Friday, 6 May. About 20 women journalists from the different Radio stations in the area attended the workshop. MONUSCO's Public Information Office in Goma initiated the…