The training room at the MONUSCO headquarters was used as the venue for the awareness-raising session organised on 14 November 2014 by the UN Mission’s Police component (UNPOL)/Kalemie for some twenty female officers of the Congolese National Police (PNC).

Facilitated by the UNPOL Sexual Violence and Child Protection focal Points, this meeting aimed to inform the participants about the procedures and rules in force for the fight against sexual violence and child protection in armed conflict.

To that purpose, several presentations were provided, including on:

• The definition of sexual violence and a discussion of a few cases of such violence in light of the Law Nº 06/018 of 20 July 2006 modifying and completing the Decree of 30 January 1940 enacting the Congolese Penal Code and the Law Nº 09/001 of January 2009 on Child Protection ;
• The different criminal procedures applicable to cases of sexual violence and the rules governing the protection of children ;
• The attitude of police personnel towards victims of sexual violence and children victims of sexual violence or in conflict with the law.

This session was provided in the context of MONUSCO’s support for the professionalization of the PNC/Kalemie. It preceded a forthcoming short-duration training course which will be held by the MONUSCO Police for personnel of the Special Police for the Protection of Children and Women (PSPEF).

This awareness session also included a presentation by the Public Information section of MONUSCO/Kalemie on the content of the UN Mission’s mandate in the DRC, based on Resolution 2147 adopted by the UN Security Council on 28 March 2014.

At the end of the session, copies of the “Echos de la MONUSCO” magazine, issue 35, as well as the brochure on the Mission’s mandate were distributed to the participants.

Marcelline Comlan/MONUSCO