CDJP Uvira

SCIAF funding enables the Diocesan Commission for Justice and Peace in Uvira to support 1,500 survivors of rape and sexual violence each year.

Levels of rape and sexual violence in the eastern DRC, particularly in the province of South Kivu, are among the worst in the world. Survivors are often left with long-lasting mental and physical scars. Many are rejected by their families, fall pregnant or contract sexually transmitted diseases like HIV and syphilis.

CDJP Uvira runs six listening centres where survivors of rape and sexual violence can recieve trauma counseling, be referred for medical treatment, be given help to pursue legal action against their attackers and get the support they need to begin rebuilding their lives.

The organisation trains volunteers to visit rural communities and seek out women in need of help, change attitudes towards rape survivors and encourage communities to respect the rights of women and young girls.

CDJP Uvira also helps rape survivors who have been rejected by their families to reintegrate into their communities and provides groups of women with no one to turn to with help to set up small farms so that they can work together to provide for themselves.

In Janurary this year, SCIAF sent CDJP Uvira over £93,000 in funding to help support its vital work.