Goma, 27 July 2017 - The Deputy Secretary-General Madam Amina J Mohammed has taken a firm resolve to ensure that the women in the MUGUNGA consolidated camp for Internal Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp return home in “Dignity and Humanity” which is not a favor but a right she said.

Madam Amina Mohammed made this declaration at the end of her visit at the head of a powerful delegation comprising of top ranking Women from the United Nations and the African Union to the IDP camp in the outskirts of Goma on the 27 of July 2017.

The DSG and her delegation promised in collaboration with UN Women, UN Agencies and the International Committee to embark on an advocacy plan to source for resources/finances for the better settlement of the women as they return to their places of origin.

She commended the women at the IDP Camp for their involvement in small trade through micro–financing with assistance from UNFPA and the National
Commission for Refugees which have been able to make them self-subsistent to cater for their needs and those of their families.
After interacting and listening to the women’s problems, she promised to make their voices heard “we will take their voice out” and  taking messages regarding Sexual Violence back to see what can be done to put an end to this problem.

Madam Amina Mohammed and delegation later embarked on a guided tour of the camp, visiting the market and tents.
It is worth mentioning that upon her arrival the previous day (26 July 2017) Deputy Secretary-General who arrived late afternoon in Goma, was welcomed at Goma International Airport by the Vice-Governor of North Kivu, Feller Litaichirwra, accompanied by the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in the DRC, David Gressly, the Mayor of Goma and several other local personalities and the United Nations.

Ms. Amina Joseph Mohammed and her delegation had a working session at the airport VIP lounge with the Vice-Governor and the Provincial security Committee at the end of which, she met with the press of North Kivu to discuss the objective of her visit to the province and the DRC as a whole. 

While visiting the Women’s economic and empowerment center   later, the Deputy Secretary-General stressed that the mission was intended to “Revitalizing Women’s Participation and Leadership in Peace, Security and Development and to seek the support of the governor in the work of the women in the provinces, to advocate for the implementation of legal texts of the DRC in favor of gender equality and to take positive measures to promote gender equality at the Provincial level. “If my sisters and I are here”, it is to carry your voices where it is necessary". She said she had stressed on that in Kinshasa when she met with the President.

The delegation she went on, will also be conveying the voices and experiences of the women encountered most of whom were “sexually abused”  bringing them a message of solidarity and presenting their plight to decision-makers and political leaders of the countries visited, the UN Security Council and the AU.

Madam Amina J Mohammed was accompanied by Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Women's Executive Director, Ms. Pramila Patten, and Special Representative of the SG for Sexual Violence, and Ms. Bineta Diop, Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the African Union of peace and Security...
and the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General in charge of Humanitarian Affairs is DRC Dr. Mamadou Diallo.

Martha Biongo PIO/Goma