Access Power Foundation

The Declaration (read full text attached) signed in December by ten heads of state in the Great Lakes Region surrounding eastern DRCongo declares a “zero tolerance” policy on sexual and gender-based violence. The Declaration was signed by ten member states of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), also party to the Great Lakes Pact of 2008 promoting peace and security in the region. Included among these are Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and DRC. The Declaration follows on a variety of protocols and frameworks developed in the region the last few years to address the staggering levels of sexual and gender-based violence that have been called worst in the world. It is perhaps telling that there has been almost no media coverage on the Declaration, despite world-wide media condemnation of the sexual atrocities occurring in the region the past two decades – words are not enough, this would indicate, real change occurs only through action.

Nonetheless, the Declaration indicates the high priority the issue is now receiving in the region. One would be hard-pressed to find a precedent anywhere for world leaders signing on the dotted line to a commitment to end gender violence. So what is the opportunity? Keep a watching brief on the progress of these commitments being transformed into action and then into results – and for all of you, show you care what happens when the opportunity to raise your voice arises. States respond with change when they receive demands for change, so stay tuned.