US embassy cable - 04KINSHASA2020

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 002020 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR H 
USAID/DCHA/DG L. FEINBERG, D. LOCKETT, C. SAVINO 
USAID/GH/HIDN/MCH M. STANTON 
USAID/DCHA/OTI L. WERCHICK 
USAID/DCHA/OFDA/ M. PRATT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, KPAO, KPKO, KWMN, KCRM, CG 
SUBJECT: PUTTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN 
THE DRC 
 
1. (U) Summary: Amnesty International's October report, 'DRC: 
Mass Rape- Time for Remedies' provides a generally accurate 
picture of the nature of sexual violence in eastern DRC. Its 
suggestion that the international community has ignored this 
crisis, however, is untrue. The USG, for example, already has 
assisted over 10,000 victims and dedicated over $5.8 million 
dollars to help combat gender-based violence.  End Summary. 
 
2. (U) On October 26, Amnesty International released a large, 
detailed report on sexual violence in the DRC with documented 
cases. 'DRC: Mass Rape- Time for Remedies' calls on the GDRC 
and the international community to facilitate access to 
medical care for rape survivors, ensure that rehabilitating 
the health care system and improving security in the eastern 
provinces are priorities, take measures to prevent survivors 
from being subjected to social and economic exclusion, and 
facilitate survivors' search for justice. Although the 
summary's tone suggested that medical concerns of rape 
victims have been sidelined, other sections of the report 
highlight the abysmal state of the Congo's medical 
infrastructure. 
 
3. (U) The report's description of the problem appears 
generally accurate. Its suggestion that the international 
community has ignored this crisis, however, is untrue. A 
number of donors, including the USG, have been working 
actively to combat this very serious issue since 2001. 
 
USG Efforts 
----------- 
 
4. (U) USAID addresses immediate and longer-term needs of 
survivors of sexual violence, their families, and their 
communities in areas of eastern Congo that have been most 
affected by armed conflict. In January 2004, USAID conducted 
an assessment mission, published an extensive report entitled 
'Sexual Terrorism: Rape as a Weapon of War in Eastern DRC,' 
and developed a broad gender-based violence strategy. USAID 
provides funding to experienced international organizations 
which work with local NGOs, health structures, and community 
based organizations to increase their capacity to provide 
holistic support to survivors including medical, 
psychosocial, protection, and socio-economic reintegration 
services, while promoting judicial support and referral when 
appropriate. 
 
5. (U) For instance, with 2002-2004 funding from Victims of 
Torture and TIP ($1,788,688 and $470,000 respectively) 12 
local organizations, which are mostly headed by survivors, 
received about $650,000 in sub-grants. The rest of the 
funding provided logistical support, materials in kind, 
medicines, training, workshops, information dissemination, 
coordination and referral to other services.  Since 2002 
these activities, which include post-rape reconstructive 
surgery at Panzi Hospital, mobile clinics which respond 
quickly to reported incidents of rape, and the first 
successful prosecution of a rape case in eastern DRC have 
assisted over 10,000 survivors, their families, and their 
communities. 
 
Looking Ahead 
-------------- 
 
6. (U) For FY04-FY06, USAID/DRC received $2,500,000 from the 
Victims of Torture Fund to support around 20 local 
organizations and health structures through international 
NGOs and $1,000,000 in OFDA funds to provide health services 
and training through UNICEF and an international NGO. In 
addition, USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives provides 
grants to local community-based organizations that also 
directly benefit victims. The total USAID budget specifically 
for gender-based violence from June 2002- September 2006 is 
$5,758,688. 
 
7. (U) In the past two years, the Embassy also used its 
limited Democracy and Human Rights Funds to support seven 
local organizations that promote women's rights and support 
survivors of sexual violence, including Centre Olame in 
Bukavu. In addition, the Embassy was awarded a special 
$50,000 grant in FY2004 to provide sexual violence survivors 
with access to judicial support services. As access continues 
to improve, and with continued USG funding, we are 
well-positioned to provide additional much-needed assistance 
for the victims of violence in eastern Congo. 
 
Other Efforts 
------------- 
 
8. (SBU) The European Union, the European Commission, and 
European bilateral donors, notably the Belgians and the 
Swiss, have also provided significant resources. A late 2003 
$30 million joint initiative by UN agencies to stop sexual 
violence in the DRC was well-received, but donors agreed the 
plan needs some revision. When revised, the plan could 
provide additional funding to address gender-based violence 
in the Congo. In addition, UN agencies and MONUC have 
prepared several reports on various aspects of this 
wide-scale problem, and MONUC plays an important role 
facilitating access for various NGOs. Post understands that a 
number of international organizations working on gender-based 
violence in the DRC are extremely disappointed that AI 
researchers did not contact them to discuss their existing 
and planned programs. 
 
9. (U)  Although the Congolese government has condemned 
gender-based violence at the highest levels, it has not taken 
much concrete action at this stage. The Justice, Social 
Affairs and Women's Affairs ministries have tried to develop 
limited programming to combat gender-based violence, but lack 
funding, capacity, and expertise. Unfortunately, 
well-intentioned activities often do not ensure 
confidentiality or protect survivors of violence, 
 
SIPDIS 
particularly in a culture in which, historically, women are 
considered second-class citizens. In addition, security 
concerns, poor medical infrastructure, limited resources (the 
budget for a country the size of the USA east of the 
Mississippi river is only $450 million), and lack of roads 
contribute to the Congolese government's inability to 
effectively deal with this problem. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
10. (SBU) We are pleased that this report has focused 
high-level international attention on gender-based violence 
in the DRC. We note, for example, that the producers of the 
Oprah Winfrey Show are considering doing a program this month 
in Bukavu focusing on this issue. We hope that international 
media interest can be harnessed to help further the work 
being done by the USG, other donors, and local and 
international NGOs which have been working on this issue for 
a number of years. 
MEECE