18 November 2022
In the province of South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Luxembourg Red Cross has been working since 2021 to support the Panzi hospital, which provides holistic care to survivors of sexual violence.
As part of this important programme, the first legal clinic in Kavumu was inaugurated on 17 November. Through construction and expansion, the new building provides a stronger and larger infrastructure to meet the high demand.
The legal clinics of the Panzi Foundation allow women victims of sexual violence to receive free legal advice and to be accompanied in filing a complaint if they wish.
In addition to the medical care provided by the Panzi Hospital, this new clinic offers legal services, listening, guidance and advice. It is also a place to raise awareness about the importance of registering children with the civil registry, which can be done free of charge immediately after birth.
The Kavumu clinic was built in an area where the Luxembourg Red Cross and its partners support the socio-economic reintegration of survivors of sexual violence through assistance in accessing land, building houses, supporting their solidarity groups and providing seed aid.
This project is implemented by the Humanitarian Aid of the Luxembourg Red Cross and financed by the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg through the project “Support to the Panzi Hospital and Foundation”, in partnership with LuxDev.