UN Women Chief launches campaign against gender-based violence in DR Congo
Kinshasa, DR Congo (PANA) - The Representative of the UN/Women in DR Congo, Ms Awa Ndiaye Seck, on Wednesday launched a 16-day campaign against gender-based violence in the DRC.
"This campaign is against all forms of violence on the basis of gender, including beatings, harassment, rape, and denial of inheritance," she said at a press briefing in Kinshasa.
"Sometimes, victims are not even aware that they are undergoing suffering serious violence because it has always been like that. This violence, unfortunately, affects women from all social classes and in all provinces, in cities and rural areas," she noted.
According to Seck, more than 40 activities related to the 16 Days of Activism have been announced by civil society organizations, NGOs, UN Women as well as other agencies, public services and donors, to highlight the evils of this scourge.
The majority of cases of violence against women have been reported in Kinshasa and eastern DRC, she said, adding that the data is both encouraging and alarming.
She argued that more people are taking courage in denouncing violence, even though the figures given on cases of violence are "the tree that hides the forest of real cases of violence against women and girls".
She deplored the attitude of the majority of victims who still do not peak out against their aggressors, pointing out that there is a 28% increase in cases of violence against women reported between the first and second quarter of 2020.
The campaign, under the theme: Finance, intervene, prevent and collect; will run from November 25 to December 10, 2020, said Seck.
-0- PANA KON/JSG/MTA/VAO 26Nov2020
