On 19 March 2018, Jeanine Bandu Bahati, Coordinator of the local women’s rights organisation Encadrement des Femmes Indigènes et des Ménages Vulnérables (EFIM) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), addressed the UN Security Council during a briefing on the dire humanitarian situation in the DRC. She provided a comprehensive overview of the security situation for women in North Kivu. Jeanine has been the Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice’s focal point for North Kivu for many years and does incredible work and advocacy for SGBV victims.

‘This morning, I have three things I would like to share with you: the security and humanitarian situation for women, the deterioration of the socio-economic situation for women and girls, and finally the political participation of women.’

Watch Jeanine’s full speech here (as of minute 8.55).
Read her full speech (in French) here.

Credit to UN Photo.