Bukavu, 20 May 2011 – Following the high rate of sexual violence in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, both the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) started a week long training programme on May 18 for high ranking military personnel of the national armed forces (FARDC) on the need to end the scourge. The training is part of the Government's strategy to implement the Sexual Violence Reduction Programme in Eastern DRC.

The training which has attracted 60 high-ranking officers from Sud-Kivu and Oriental provinces, was officially launched in Kinshasa a month earlier.

Participants' inclusion into the programme followed a strict selection process based on professional skills and moral values. The training is covering such areas as Human Rights; Child Protection and the Military Code of Conduct and Discipline. Following this workshop the newly trained officers will in turn impart their knowledge on their subordinates and hence, contribute to the prevention of sexual violence in Sud-Kivu.

The objective of the Sexual Violence Reduction Programme is to assist the Civic and Patriotic Education Department in its efforts to raise the level of FARDC's work ethics and moral integrity. The Programme is funded through the UN-led International Support Strategy for Security and Stabilization in Eastern DRC (ISSSS), as part of the wider Government Program for Stability and Reconstruction (STAREC).

Tahina Andriamamonjitianasoa/ MONUSCO