Aurélie Maliro
This project, launched to support displaced women and girls in the Shabindu camp, aims to collect testimonials from the beneficiaries in order to advocate for the fulfillment of their needs in this area. More than 50 women have agreed to share their stories.
The session also provided an opportunity for the organizers to raise awareness about the Maputo Protocol, with a particular focus on Article 14(c), which permits medical abortion in cases of rape, incest, or when the pregnancy endangers the mother’s mental and physical health.
“Peace begins when a woman’s body is no longer a battlefield.”
Yves Wiss
The next phase of the project will involve producing a book that outlines the needs of women and girls in the area of sexual and reproductive health.
This emergency project is an appeal to policymakers to ensure that the needs of the beneficiaries in our care are effectively addressed.
For several years now, eastern DRC has been plagued by numerous acts of barbarism, with women remaining the primary victims. They watch helplessly as murders are committed and are often direct victims of rape, notes Sylvie Mazambi, coordinator of Women Power DRC.
Article 14 of the Maputo Protocol, to which the DRC is a signatory, guarantees women’s reproductive rights, particularly in cases of sexual assault, rape, and incest, and when pregnancy endangers the mother’s mental or physical health or the life of the mother or the fetus.
In this context, WOMEN POWER DRC launched an emergency response project addressing gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual and reproductive health on September 7, 2024.
On the ground, Safi Senga, a victim of sexual violence, confided in us: “I have been a victim of sexual violence in this camp since May 2024. As a result of this rape, I am now four months pregnant. Ever since I realized I was carrying this child, I have been traumatized. I had no information about the Maputo Protocol, which allows for safe abortion in cases of rape. Please help me access this procedure. I can’t bear this situation anymore; I need to have an abortion.”
It is important to note that WHO studies show that one in four pregnancies ends in abortion each year. However, unsafe abortions impose a heavy burden on women, their families, and health care systems. Health experts explain that improving access to safe abortion and post-abortion care can help protect women’s health.
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