The DR Congo National Discourse Forum (DRCNDF) members and partners are on course fighting Gender based violence in the country.  The call for prevention was made on 1st September 2017 during a one day meeting that attracted 210 participants most of them being Senior five and Senior six students, and youth drawn from Butembo.

During the meeting, it was established that youth understandings on behavior towards HIV/AIDS is still low. In her note, the DRCNDF Chairperson Mrs. Kakule Thérèse Katungu called on youth to improve their understanding on sexual behavior and HIV, and not to let themselves be attracted by petty gifts from anyone. 

There were complaints of UN peacekeepers who were involved in sexual violence. Hence Mrs. CHIMENE, the Program Officer of SOFEPADI informed that their initiative concerns young people who are already or are likely to be sexually abused in exchange for petty gifts and money.

During the meeting, the representative of MONUSCO revealed that MONUSCO received similar complaints against their soldiers. She advised young girls and mothers not to have love affairs with MONUSCO agents.

She explained that MONUSCO has a Disciplinary Council that examines complaints of violence filed against their agents throughout the DRC, and uses different approaches including DNA tests to prove the authenticity of the complaints against the accused. A legal suit from the country of origin is applied once there is tangible evidence to pin the suspect.

It was said by local civil society organizations that the number of teen mothers is increasing because the victims live in poverty and insecurity; the main cause of early pregnancies.