Child Protection in the Democratic Republic of Congo - UNICEF Appeal 2011

31 December 2010 - In north and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) clashes between armed forces rebel groups and various militias continue to wreak severe harm on civilians who are routinely caught in the frontlines of confrontations. The result is extensive humanitarian needs and limited to nonexistent prospects for recovery and development. North Kivu South Kivu and Orientale Province continue to be plagued by serious human rights violations food insecurity high mortality and morbidity rates horrific sexual violence and considerable and ongoing displacement of population groups. Continued population displacements are straining hosting communities themselves having limited resources and lacking the most basic services including health and medical care and safe water infrastructure. With CIDA support UNICEF is addressing the protection needs of conflict-affected children in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Activities focus on: providing access to essential medical psychosocial care and reintegration assistance to survivors of sexual violence; preventing all forms of violence abuse exploitation and discrimination of children; protecting child victims of human rights violations; working with authorities and other child protection stakeholders to prevent the recruitment of children into armed groups and to secure their release; and reintegrating children into their families and communities of origin.