FONAREV Launches Landmark Initiative and Art Exhibition to Honor Victims of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo
"We must transform pain into restored dignity, silence into speech, and commitments into concrete reparations."
After more than three decades of armed, political, and communal conflict, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is taking a historic stand for the more than 10 million victims of conflict-related sexual violence. With the creation of FONAREV, a Congolese public institution established by government mandate, survivors will now receive long-overdue recognition, protection, and reparation under Law No. 22/06, signed into law on December 26, 2022.
"We must transform pain into restored dignity, silence into speech, and commitments into concrete reparations." said President Félix Tshisekedi.
This unprecedented effort is championed by the Distinguished First Lady of the DRC, Madame Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, United Nations Global Champion for the Prevention of Sexual Violence, who has dedicated her career to amplifying the voices of survivors.
"It is time to guarantee all victims their right to the truth and, even more importantly, to justice, so that such a tragedy never happens again." said the Distinguished First Lady.
Conflict-related sexual violence has left deep scars: profound physical and psychological trauma, lasting social isolation, economic insecurity, and the rejection of survivors by their families and communities. Beyond the individual, the very dignity of the Congolese people has been violated across generations.
To bring global awareness to this urgent call for justice, FONAREV will host a high-level conference during the 80th United Nations General Assembly. The event will be open to accredited members of the international press.
Conference Details:
Date & Time: September 22, 2025–11:00 AM
Location: New York City (venue details provided upon confirmation)
RSVP: Please confirm attendance with the media contact listed below
To expand this vital message to the public, FONAREV presents "Art for Peace and Resilience," a powerful art exhibition debuting works of Congolese artists curated by Aimé Mpane. When language proves inadequate to articulate the magnitude of human suffering, art functions as a medium for recognition, interpretation, and hope. This exhibition brings together Congolese artists from the Academy of Fine Arts in Kinshasa, in the state capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), to construct a shared narrative of victims of sexual violence emblematic of resilience and hope, aim to raise global awareness about the plight of victims in the DRC and the Genocost, while advocating for peace through the universal language of art.
Art Exhibition Details:
Event: Fonarev // Art for Peace and Resilience
Location: 15 E 40th Street New York, NY 10016
Dates: September 23rd – 26th, 9:00 AM -6:00 PM
"Genocost is not just a concept or a symbolic date. It is the embodiment of a duty: to raise awareness, to recognize, and to make amends. It also reminds us that memory is a right, and that any society worthy of the name must honor its dead with truth and courage." added the Director General of FONAREV, Patrick Fata.
About FONAREV
FONAREV (Fonds National de Réparations des Victimes des violences sexuelles liées aux conflits et des crimes contre la paix et la sécurité de l'humanité) is a Congolese public institution mandated to establish the fundamental principles of protection and reparation for victims of conflict-related sexual violence and crimes against peace and humanity. FONAREV is funded by the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and tasked with implementing Law No. 22/06 to guarantee victims access to justice and dignity.
