Congolese and African stakeholders gathering in Paris for the “La Traversée” conference are calling for strengthened international mobilisation in support of victims of violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
They are also championing efforts to preserve memory and seek justice.
The National Fund for Victim Reparations (FONAREV) and the Interministerial Commission for Victim Assistance and Reform Support (CIA-VAR) launched an awareness campaign accompanied by a citizen petition aimed at increasing international mobilisation in support of populations affected by violence in the east of the country.
This initiative was announced at the conclusion of “La Traversée,” a conference held on May 30 in Paris and dedicated to the international recognition of crimes committed in the DRC, according to a press release received by APA on Wednesday.
The event brought together researchers, journalists, lawyers, artists, and numerous prominent figures committed to issues of memory and justice.
According to the organisers, this campaign aims to “bring truth to light, raise awareness, and strengthen international mobilisation” around the massacres perpetrated in the country for several decades.
During the discussions, participants emphasized the importance of preserving the memory of the victims and continuing to advocate for recognition based on documented facts and the demand for justice.
Representatives from FONAREV and CIA-VAR also called for collective awareness of the human consequences of the conflicts in eastern DRC, including violence against women, the recruitment of children, and the forced displacement of populations.
They called for increased commitment from the international community to support victims, promote justice, and foster lasting peace in the region. The campaign includes a petition intended to broaden public support across Africa and the rest of the world.
Its initiators hope to mobilize millions of people around a message of solidarity with the affected populations.
Established in 2022, FONAREV is a Congolese public institution tasked with identifying, supporting, and compensating victims of conflict-related sexual violence and other serious crimes.
The institution claims to have identified over 250,000 victims, primarily in the eastern provinces of the country.
ARD/te/fss/as/APA