LONDON, United Kingdom, October 19, 2015/APO (African Press Organization)/ —
We were shocked and saddened to hear from Tearfund, our project partners working to prevent sexual violence in North Kivu, that two communities had been brutally attacked by armed groups last week. Foreign Office Minister and British Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Preventing sexual violence, Baroness Anelay said:
“I condemn the attacks by armed groups against the communities of Mangurajipa and Kambau in Eastern DRC this week. Several people have reportedly been killed, raped and kidnapped, including some who were engaged in UK-funded programmes to combat sexual violence in conflict.
I visited one of these projects not far from these villages only two weeks ago, and I was as horrified by the pain inflicted on these communities as I was inspired by the men and women working to improve security and the recovery of survivors.
Attacks like this one remind us all why we must continue to drive forward measures to prevent these crimes. I am sure that the activists, police and officials that I met during my visit to DRC will work together to ensure that the perpetrators of this latest crime are brought to justice swiftly. The UK Government will continue to support the government of the DRC in implementing its commitment to end conflict related sexual violence and civil society groups in their work with survivors.”
