UK government supporting DRC to end violence against women

(Vatican Radio) Wednesday November 25th marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, an annual observance to highlight this global problem which impedes progress in so many other areas of development, health, education and security.

Baroness Joyce Anelay is Minister of State at Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office and serves as the Prime Minister’s special representative on preventing sexual violence in conflict.

In October she visited the Democratic Republic of Congo to see firsthand the impact of such violence and to show her government’s support for programmes aimed at both prevention and the struggle for justice for all survivors of gender violence.

Baroness Anelay talked to Philippa Hitchen about her visit and about the crucial role of faith groups in combatting discrimination against women and girls worldwide….

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Baroness Anelay travelled to both the capital, Kinshasa, and Goma in the eastern DRC to talk with government officials, civil society groups and faith leaders about ending sexual violence in conflict.  What was particularly encouraging, she says, was “the acknowledgement by the government that this actually is a problem across society.”

She notes the DRC president now has his own special representative for this issue with whom the British government can work very closely.  In particular she highlights efforts that are being made to ensure that prosecutions are brought forward against perpetrators in organisations such as the armed forces, in order to end the culture of impunity that often accompanies sexual violence in conflicts.

While progress has been made,  Baroness Anelay says the British government will continue to support and encourage this work “through diplomacy, which is how the FCO works.”

Describing a visit to one of the programmes, called La Pepiniere, funded by her government’s Department for International Development, the Baroness says she was particularly impressed with the way that former victims are involved in the project. “It was great to see the programme empowering adolescent girls”, she says, who are “right at the centre of this programme, making the decisions. These 16-20 year old girls were speaking in a way which was brave and practical and with hope for the future.”

Speaking of the vital role of faith groups, Baroness Anelay notes that “the Church has unrivalled reach in the DRC” and is therefore “a trusted partner” with an influential voice. She goes on to praise the local Church’s efforts to rehabilitate victims of sexual violence, describing the way in which a local chief had been persuaded by Church authorities to give shelter and food to two women who had both been victims of rape.

“The strength of the human spirit helps to overcome sexual violence” the Baroness says, speaking from her experience of visiting many conflict zones around the world. She also says she's interested to see Pope Francis talking about a more decisive role for women in the Catholic Church and thanks him for his support during last year's London summit to end sexual violence in conflict.