United for victims of SGBV in the Great Lakes Region
A coalition of civil society organisations is calling on member states of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region to implement a 2006 Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes Region to avert not only post?election violence in member states but also any other form of violence.
United to Prevent, End Impunity and Provide Support to the Victims of SGBV in the Great Lakes Region
Press Release
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
We the undersigned members of the Civil Society Organizing Committee appreciate the hosting of a Special Session of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) in Kampala, Uganda from 15th‐16th December 2011 on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) under the theme “United to Prevent, End Impunity and Provide Support to the Victims of SGBV in the Great Lakes Region”.
We recognize that the Heads of State from the ICGLR member states adopted the Protocol on the Prevention and Suppression of Sexual Violence Against Women and Children (2006), The African Union Protocol on the Rights of Women (2003), and other African Union and United Nations Instruments associated with the prevention of SGBV, protection of vulnerable groups and punishment of perpetrators.
The significance of preventing SGBV is crucial as it is a clear violation of human rights which greatly impacts on stability and development of the region.
While sexual and gender based violence occurs during peace time, it has often escalated in times of conflict and hence our concern as the Civil Society Organizations on the reported cases of post‐election violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which can be a catalyst for widespread sexual and gender based violence.
Considering that the theme for this Special session of the ICGLR summit on SGBV is “Prevention, End of Impunity and Support to Victims of Sexual Gender Based Violence” we therefore call on ICGLR member states to implement the 2006 Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes Region to avert not only post‐election violence in member states but any other form of violence, and we further recommend the following:
- Launch a Presidential Campaign on Zero Tolerance on SGBV Crimes and Impunity
- Allocate specific and adequate funding for SGBV prevention programs - Adopt a comprehensive SGBV Performance Index to gauge performance annually
- Establish national funds to provide assistance for survivors of SGBV in line with the ICGLR Protocol on the Prevention and Suppression of Sexual Violence against Women and Children (2006)
- Institutionalise early warning and response mechanisms for SGBV at community level including community policing.
On behalf of the Civil Society Organizing Committee,
Leah Chatta‐Chipepa, Executive Director, Akina Mama wa Afrika‐ Chairperson of the Regional Civil Society Organizing Committee.
For further information please contact:
Akina Mama wa Afrika‐ Leah Chatta –Chipepa Tel:+256 414 543681, Email: [email][email protected] African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET)‐ Naisola Likimani, Tel: +254 711305964, Email: [email][email protected]
Members of the Regional Civil Society Organizing Committee
Agency For Cooperation and Research in Development (ACORD), Action for Development (ACFODE), ActionAid International, African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET), Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA), CARE International, East African Sub‐Regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI), Isis‐Women’s International Cross Cultural Exchange (Isis‐WICCE), Regional Associates for Community Initiatives (RACI)