First Lady of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Advocates for Women’s Protection

Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, the First Lady of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has called for increased mobilization in support of women and young girls affected by armed conflicts in the Eastern part of the country.

On Wednesday, March 25, in a message on her X account, she mentioned having discussions in Washington with Melanne Verveer, the Executive Director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security. This meeting took place on the sidelines of the Fostering the Future Together Coalition summit, which brings together various stakeholders committed to issues of peace, security, and women’s rights.

The focus of these discussions was on the situation of Congolese women living in areas affected by armed violence in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The First Lady specifically addressed the persisting use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, which she views as a major obstacle to achieving lasting peace.

In her message, she also emphasized the need to strengthen mechanisms for protecting victims, combatting impunity for perpetrators of these crimes, and promoting greater participation of women in peace processes.

Nancy Clémence Tshimueneka