Almost a decade since the signing of the Pretoria peace accords, parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remain volatile and plagued by varying levels of violence – including sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).  An important aspect of this dynamic is the level of population displacement in and around the country.  According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), most of the DRC’s rural inhabitants are “prima facie refugees” or internally displaced persons (IDPs).  The DRC hosts some 155,000 refugees from neighboring states, primarily in the north and east of the country. At the end of December 2008 there were over 1.6 million IDPs in eastern DRC. Reducing violence and conflict triggers in the DRC requires an effective and lasting solution to the problem of displacement.

UNHCR has programs to register displaced persons, provide legal and protection assistance, in addition to assisting refugee and IDPs with basic needs such as shelther and non-food items. Measuring and evaluating the impact of these interventions is critical, particularly in view of the worrying trends in areas like SGBV. In light of these challenges, panelists at this event examined opportunities and limitations for international engagement in the humanitarian, social and economic sectors.

Speakers

• Mohamed Boukry
  Regional Representative for DRC, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
• Elisabeth Roesch
  Gender-Based Violence Advocacy Officer, International Rescue Committee
• Mvemba Dizolele
  Peter J. Duignan Distinguished Visiting Fellow 2009-2012, Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace, Stanford University
• Dorina Bekoe
  Senior Research Associate, U.S. Institute of Peace