Doctors Without Borders reports huge figures on the number of cases of sexual violence in the DRC

Urgent calls to action

Based on the needs of the victims and building on previous work to solve this long-standing problem in the country, the MSF report lists around twenty urgent actions to be taken by the parties to the conflict, the Congolese authorities (national, provincial and local). – as well as international donors and the humanitarian sector. For MSF, there are three key areas where urgent action is needed.

First and foremost, MSF calls on all parties to the conflict to ensure respect for international humanitarian law. In particular, it calls for an absolute ban on sexual violence, but also for respect for the civilian character of IDP locations. The protection of civilians involved in the fighting must be a priority. The call to protect civilians from abuse is also addressed to those involved in humanitarian programs.

Secondly, Doctors Without Borders calls for improving living conditions in the locations for internally displaced people. Indeed, access needs to be improved to basic needs – food, water, income-generating activities – and to safe and well-lit sanitation and shelter. These investments must also be accompanied by greater efforts to raise awareness about sexual violence. While humanitarian financing must be flexible enough to respond to emerging and urgent needs, implementing partners must also demonstrate responsibility in delivering interventions.