South-Kivu, 11 November 2015 – MONUSCO Gender Section in the South-Kivu province, in partnership with a Congolese female legal experts’ Association, organized on 11 November 2015, a round table on how to “assist a larger number of women candidates in the South-Kivu during the upcoming elections”; thirty (30) women candidates attended the workshop.

Bringing different female actors to embark on the electoral process and come up with specific and appropriate proposals on their physical, legal and political protection as well as a strategy for their higher involvement in the electoral process as candidates, voters, witnesses and observers were the major issues adressed by the reflection day.

The 30 participants’ shared ambition was to increase their chances of being elected in larger number during the upcoming elections.

According to the acting chief of MONUSCO South-Kivu office, the coming elections are a better means to achieve this objective. It is therefore critical to come up with the most appropriate strategies on how to best secure physical, legal and political protection for the female candidates with a view to maximizing their changes of being elected, in a larger number.

He pledged the United Nations, through its different components, shall assist them materialize their aspirations, recalling that no lasting, inclusive and participative development or peace can achieved without taking this into account.

Biliaminou Alao