Bukavu, 17 March 2011 – The United Nations Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) launched a training seminar for traditional leaders from Idjwi territory to educate them on their role in the fight against impunity for sexual violence. Idjwi is an island in Lake Kivu, at the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.

Held in partnership with the NGO Action for the Promotion and Defense of Vulnerable Persons (APRODEPED) and with the support of the Canadian Intentional Development Agency (CIDA), the three-day training course encompassed human rights, the competence of customary law courts regarding sexual violence, and the provision of counseling services to victims of sexual violence.

Despite the adoption, in 2006, of two laws of the Congolese legislation to punish sexual violence offences, such crimes continue to be committed amidst the continued interference by traditional chiefs into sexual violence cases and even the propensity customary courts to favor amicable settlements of such cases.

This seminar thus reflects efforts to remedy this situation and improve the fight against impunity. It will help the traditional leaders of Idjwi who took part in this training to achieve a better understanding of the differences between civil and customary courts in terms of organization and competencies.