Beni, 9 March 2011 – In Beni, female staff of the UN Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo (MONUSCO) joined several local women in a parade marking the International Women's Day.

Women from all social groups joined in a gigantic four-hour parade, which started at the town's main round-about and ended at the public square.

After the parade, MONUSCO's women headed for Beni's Kangbayi central prison, where they donated essential items such as soap, cooking oil, cassava flour and bananas to the female inmates. The ceremony was held in the presence of the prison's officials and inmate representatives.

In a prelude to the celebration of International Women's Day, Beni's women organized on 3 March, a conference on the theme: "Women's and Girls' access to education, training, technology, parity, equality and elections."

Moussa Demba Diallo/MONUSCO