Bringing Hope to Victims of Rape and Violence

By Christopher Glass/IMA

U.S. Abassador James Entwistle (left) and Marie-Ange Lukiana, Minister of Gender with the Congolese government, officially launch an initiative to fight Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Eastern DRC during a recent ceremony at Ambassador Entwistle's residence.

IMA has recently been selected as a key partner in the USHINDI program, a $16.5 million USAID-funded program designed to support survivors of this violence in the conflict areas of North and South Kivu provinces.

USHINDI, which in Swahili means “to overcome” or “victory,” will be put into action by IMA through three partners: Heal Africa, Panzi Hospital of DR Congo, and Program for the Promotion of Primary Health Care (PPSSP).

The USHINDI Project’s main objectives are:

• Increase access to timely, quality care and treatment services for victims of SGBV
• Improve the quality of services and interventions—including safe-houses and psychosocial counseling—for individuals and communities affected by SGBV
• Reduce individuals' vulnerability from future acts of abuse and violence by providing income-generating and other economic activities, and take perpetrators of violence to court.
• To build the capacity of women to enjoy their rights and enable them to play an equal role with men in their community.

For many years IMA has been working to help women affected by SGBV in DR Congo, and the USHINDI project greatly increases the number of women IMA will impact.

 “The needs in this region are immense and the challenge is daunting,” says Rick Santos, IMA president and CEO. “Yet we see progress, significant progress, being made both to help the victims and to reduce the occurrence of SGBV.”