UNITED NATIONS, New York, (Nov. 25, 2008)—World Vision urged the United Nations Security Council today to stop the sexual violence against women and girls that has characterized the brutal conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). One month after hostilities intensified in the volatile region, World Vision is warning that protection for civilians—particularly women and children—continues to be the most urgent and unmet need.

“A silent war has been waged against women and children,” said Sue Mbaya, World Vision’s Africa advocacy director, addressing today the UN Security Council Arria Formula briefing—the highest level of official engagement between the Security Council and NGOs. The meetings usually occur when the Security Council faces pending decisions, such as upcoming discussions to renew United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (MONUC) mandate which expires at the end of December.

World Vision is calling for the UN Security Council to review and focus MONUC’s mandate so that civilian protection is the peacekeeping operation’s first priority—particularly the protection of women and girls against sexual and gender-based violence.

“Women and girls in the hundreds have been targets of opportunistic and brutal rape, while children are also being targeted for recruitment or re-recruitment as child soldiers,” Mbaya said.

“This past week alone, according to the provincial health services, 20 cases of sexual violence were reported just in Goma. We know that this number only represents a fraction of the actual sexual violence, as most cases go unreported,” Mbaya said.

Repeated displacements, separation of children from family members, and the vulnerable conditions of camp life are contributing to ongoing sexual violence and recruitment of child soldiers, according to Mbaya.

“Children as young as seven have been forced to fight,” she said, “Some children are being abducted and others are joining armed groups voluntarily because they lack food and access to education or vocational skills.”

Mbaya stressed that long-term development to address the region’s poverty is only possible if peace and stability are achieved. In the short-term, eastern DRC remains a largely neglected emergency, with an inadequate amount of humanitarian assistance compared to the need. Continued insecurity is limiting the ability of aid groups to effectively reach those most in need.

In the midst of these challenges, World Vision has distributed emergency items, including blankets, plastic sheeting, sleeping mats, soap, cooking equipment and mosquito nets to more than 20,000 displaced people, and hopes to reach more than 200,000 people in the next two months. World Vision is also providing therapeutic food to malnourished children in nine community-based centres. The organization is also distributing donated medications valued at $142,000 to four hospitals in Goma next week.

World Vision has served in eastern DRC since 1993, providing agricultural training and a large-scale water and sanitation project funded by Canadian International Development Agency.

Canadian donors to World Vision sponsor 21,625 children in the DRC, all of whom live in the south and west of the country and are not directly affected by the fighting.

World Vision is accepting donations to assist those affected by the crisis. Those wishing to help can visit WorldVision.ca or call 1-800-268-5528 (1-800-363-5021 for French).

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.

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To interview Sue Mbaya or World Vision aid workers in eastern DRC, please contact:

Yoko Kobayashi
905-565-6200 ext. 2151
416-671-0086 (cell)
yoko_kobayashi@WorldVision.ca

Alex Sancton
905-565-6200 ext. 3949
416-419-1321 (cell)
alex_sancton@WorldVision.ca