London, April 11, 2103: Geoffrey Dennis, Chief Executive of CARE International UK and advisor to William Hague on the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative, said:
“The G8 has today sent a signal from the world's most powerful states that impunity for rape in war will no longer be tolerated. But, to really make a difference, international diplomacy must now be followed through with the long, hard work on the ground to better support survivors, reform national security and justice institutions, and tackle the root causes of the violence.
“There will be no quick fix for the lawlessness and brutality in which these horrific crimes occur but, if today's commitments result in more concerted action by G8 nations, that could help stem the violence.”
Yawo Douvon, CARE’s country director in the Democratic Republic of Congo, who hosted William Hague and Angelina Jolie on 24 March to meet rape survivors at Lac Vert camp for displaced people near Goma in eastern DRC, said:
“Right now, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, frontline services for survivors are chronically underfunded. The justice system is on its knees and the peace process hangs in the balance. Will the G8 nations use everything in their power to turn this situation around? That's the test for the commitments they’ve made today.”
For further information please contact the Press Officers:
Kathryn Richards - Senior Press Officer
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44 (0)207 091 6047
Deborah Underdown - Press Officer
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44 (0)207 091 6063
Josephine Broughton - PR and Communications Executive
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44 (0)207 091 6014
Prior to the G8 Foreign Ministers' meeting in London, British Foreign Secretary William Hague and Angelina Jolie visited CARE's Lac Vert camp in Goma, DR Congo in March 2013 to learn about the impact of sexual violence on women. Read the story here.
Also read CARE's press statement before the G8 Foreign Ministers' meeting here.
ABOUT CARE: Founded in 1945, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty and providing lifesaving assistance in emergencies. In 84 countries around the world, CARE places special focus on working alongside poor girls and women because, equipped with the proper resources, they have the power to help lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty. CARE and its local partners implement long-term development programs and humanitarian assistance interventions in the Great Lakes countries (DRC, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi), including programs to prevent sexual and gender-based violence and provide support to survivors.