§ John BarrettTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken to(a) reduce incidents of rape and (b) provide support for rape victims in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [85880]
§ Clare ShortWe are extremely concerned about the levels rape and violence to which women in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are subjected.
227WThrough our Embassies in Kinshasa and Kigali, and through direct contact with local authorities when visiting the East, the UK Government raised the urgent need to address these issues with representatives from all sides including the RCD and Rwandan authorities. We are establishing a DFID office in Kinshasa from December 2002 and will be better placed to raise issues with relevant authorities in government held areas. We also support a number of civil society organisations, including International Alert and local rights organisations, that are working in eastern DRC to monitor and raise rights abuses with authorities, as well as providing some limited support to women victims.