UNDP Calls for Stronger Action to Protect Women and Girls from Gender-Based Violence in DRC and South Sudan
Credit: World Vision International
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has called for sustained investment in protecting women and girls from gender-based violence (GBV) in conflict-affected countries, emphasizing that tackling violence is essential for achieving lasting peace and sustainable development.
Speaking during a side event titled “Sharing Experiences in Addressing Gender-Based Violence: Women and Girls in Crisis in DRC and South Sudan” at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, then UNDP Associate Administrator (a.i.) Mourad Wahba said conflict and humanitarian crises continue to expose women and girls to heightened risks of violence, discrimination and exclusion.
Wahba said addressing GBV requires coordinated humanitarian and development responses, backed by stronger legal frameworks, effective justice systems and survivor-centered support services.
He highlighted UNDP’s partnership with governments and UN agencies to strengthen protection systems in both the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan.
In South Sudan, UNDP has supported the government in developing laws to protect internally displaced persons (IDPs) while advocating for policies to end child marriage and other harmful practices affecting women and girls.
According to Wahba, more than 1,100 survivors of gender-based violence in South Sudan received counselling and psychosocial support in 2018. Survivors also benefited from vocational skills training and livelihood programmes aimed at promoting economic independence.
UNDP further supported the economic rehabilitation of vulnerable women and girls, particularly survivors of sexual violence, in Bor and Juba Protection of Civilians (PoC) sites. A total of 518 women and 109 men received practical vocational training, enabling many participants to establish small businesses and improve their livelihoods.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Wahba said the establishment of One-Stop Health Centers has significantly improved access to integrated care for GBV survivors while reducing stigma. The model, first introduced in South Kivu, North Kivu and Ituri provinces, is now being promoted nationwide through collaboration between UN agencies, civil society organizations and the Ministry of Gender.
He also noted that strengthening the capacity of community leaders and legal institutions has improved access to justice, with prosecution rates for GBV cases increasing from 46.6 percent in 2016 to 88.7 percent in 2018.
Wahba stressed that a human rights-based approach remains central to UNDP’s work in crisis settings, helping remove barriers that prevent women from accessing justice, economic opportunities and equal participation in decision-making.
He reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to working alongside governments and partners, including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), to reduce and ultimately eliminate gender-based violence through long-term development solutions that strengthen resilience and protect vulnerable communities.
“Addressing gender-based violence in crisis contexts is a critical prerequisite for sustainable development and lasting peace,” Wahba said.
