Highlights from the reporting period (Q1 & Q2 2022)

In the first semester of 2022, the preparation for, and extension of, contracts of five implementing partners into Year 2 at the amounts approved by the Board took place, further to a short extension implemented from 1 February to 31 March 2022. Participation in bilateral meetings, round tables, and workshops continued to raise awareness of the activities conducted under the TFV’s assistance mandate.

  1. Context

The ICC's investigation in CAR I focused on alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the context of a conflict in CAR since 1 July 2002, with the peak of violence in 2002 and 2003. The investigation in CAR II focused on alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the context of the conflict in CAR since 1 August 2012. The 2012 conflict reportedly involved alleged crimes by both Muslim Séléka and Christian anti-balaka groups; the violence allegedly led to thousands of deaths and left hundreds of thousands displaced. The UN has also issued warnings of the high risk of genocide in CAR.

The investigation has produced one main case, The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo involving charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Proceedings began in another case involving charges against five suspects for offences against the administration of justice allegedly committed in connection with the case of The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo. In CAR II, the Prosecutor alleges that there is a reasonable basis to believe that the following crimes have been committed in CAR since 2012:

  • war crimes: murder, rape, pillaging, attacks against humanitarian missions, and the use of children under fifteen in combat; and  
  • crimes against humanity: murder, rape, forced displacement, and persecution.
  1. Assistance programme

In 2013, the TFV’s first initiative to launch an assistance programme in CAR had to be suspended, then abandoned, due to the resurging violence in the country, preventing sustainable reparative outcomes of the activities. In 2017, the acquittal of Mr Bemba by the ICC led the TFV to reprise the launch of an assistance programme, addressing harm occurred in both the CAR I AND CAR II situations. A pilot project (2020-2021) addressed the most urgent reparative needs of victims, and subsequently merged into the overall assistance programme.

The Trust Fund’s multi-annual Assistance Programme in the CAR is funding projects by 5 implementing partners: AFJC, CIAF, Dan Church Aid, Dr Mukwege Foundation, and Médecins d’Afrique.

The 5-year assistance programme in CAR provides medical care for pathological diseases relatable to harm suffered from crimes within the jurisdiction of the ICC; access to food security and nutritional support; access to psychological care; access to education for dependents and provision of school equipment; access to housing for homeless victims; and, assistance with income-generating activities and self-employment.

Partner, project title & location

Beneficiaries & activities (Q2/2022)

Project amount & duration

Comité Interafricain pour les Femmes de Centrafrique (CIAF)

 

Assistance for physical and psychological rehabilitation, and socio-economic support to conflict related sexual violence in the province of Lobaye, CAR.

 

Pissa, Mbata, Kappou, Nzinga, Batalimo, Mbaiki, Mongoumba in the province of Lobaye

 

Total number of beneficiaries to date: 994
  • Survivors of sexual violence and their families.
  • 57 survivors (34 women and 23 men) have benefited directly from psychological care. Of these beneficiaries, 29 are survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, and 28 are indirect victims of rape who suffered psychological violence and physical harm. This brings the total number of beneficiaries of psychotherapy to 905 (461 women and 444 men) since the beginning of the project. A total of 7 psychotherapy groups have been organised with the active participation of 29 survivors; 28 community members have taken part in talk-education sessions. Out of a total of 144 home visits for counselling and family mediation, 65 visits were conducted from 1 April 1 to 30 June 2022. 
  • As the transfer of funds was not done in time, no survivor benefited from medical care. However, since the beginning of the project, out of a total of 994 beneficiaries, 458 survivors (248 women and 210 mean) benefited from medical care, including 89 survivors who underwent surgery for harm resulting from SGBV. Round referral system put in place through a partnership with 7 medical facilities.
  • 120 survivors have received each a start-up funds or equipment to launch small business of which it was reported a significant improvement of 137 (72 women and 65 men) in running their business and have enhanced their status
  • 82 dependants of the survivors (36 girls and 46 boys) received school materials for schooling.

320 000 Euros (170 000 Year 1 and 150 000 Year 2)

 

5 year multi-annual project, with an annual renewal conditioned by the availability of funds, the approval of the TFV Board of Directors and good performance in implementation of the project.

Association des Femmes Juristes de Centrafrique (AFJC)

 

Integrated physical and psychological reintegration services for survivors of sexual violence and their families in Begoua and Damara in the Ombella Mpoko prefecture of the CAR

 

Begoua and Damara in the Ombella Mpoko prefecture

 

Total number of beneficiaries to date: 14678
  • 14678 survivors of sexual violence and their families.
  • 2209 survivors (1950 women and 259 men) of sexual violence participated in psychotherapy sessions, including individual counselling and group psychotherapy sessions organized in the listening centres of Begoua and Bossembele.
  • 218 survivors (179 women and 39 men) received medical care in the health centres. 158 women survivors including 4 children born of rape who tested positive for HIV/AIDS and are receiving antiviral treatment, are receiving medical care.
  • 205 survivors (183 women and 12 men) have strengthened their skills in economic activity following training in small business management. 205 survivors benefited from a small business start-up kit.
  • 80 children (30 men and 50 women) benefited from education support.

492 000 Euros (292,002 Euros for Year 1 and 200 000 for Year 2)

 

5 year multi-annual project with an annual renewal conditioned by the availability of funds, the approval of the TFV Board of Directors and good performance in implementation of the project.

DanChurchAid (DCA)

 

Support for physical and psychosocial rehabilitation and socio-economic reintegration of victims of conflict under the responsibility of the ICC in the province of Kemo, CAR.

 

Sibut, Galafondo, Ferré, Dékoa, Mala, and other localities in the province of Kemo.

 

Total number of beneficiaries to date: 624
  • 624 victims of armed conflict.
  • 64 survivors have received medical care from the project; 70 survivors who were tested positive for HIV-AIDS and whose health is deteriorating have been provided with round-trip transportation costs to access appropriate health care and have access to ARVs in health facilities; 42 survivors with gynaecological complications and other chronic diseases related to rape were referred to medical facilities for appropriate care.
  • 14 group psychotherapy sessions were organised within the 3 psychotherapy centres set up and which were also used to  facilitate individual counselling sessions for the 624 survivors and psychotherapy sessions in group through 28 trained psychosocial agents. The beneficiaries were formed into small groups of 11-25 people to facilitate the focus groups; 221 survivors beneficiaries of the project benefited from home visits (VAD).
  • 300 survivors (93 male and 207 female) were financially supported to implement income-generating activities (IGAs) and to date 210( 72 male and 138 female) of the 300 m have started their activities thanks to the project's support; With the savings, 3 local savings and loans associations have been created under the supervision of the project staff.

380 000 Euros (180 000 Euros Year 1 and 200 000 Year 2)

 

5 year multi-annual project, with an annual renewal conditioned by the availability of funds, the approval of the TFV Board of Directors and good performance in implementation of the project.

Mukwege Foundation

 

Strengthening access to psychological care and material support for victims of conflict-related sexual violence in CAR

 

Bangui and surroundings

 

Total number of beneficiaries to date: 553
  • 553 Victims of armed conflict.
  • 276 survivors and children born of rape infected with HIV/AIDS have improved their health through regular medical care in partnership with Nengo Project and the Mama Carla/Amici Health Centre; St. Blandine Clinic,  Henri Dunant health Center, Psychiatric Hospital and Red Cross center of Bangui
  • 53 survivors tested positive for HIV/AIDS, under antiretroviral treatment, benefit from a nutritional and dietary supplement.
  • Provision of school materials and the payment of school fees for the 80 children of survivors (44 girls and 36 boys) previously assisted under the pilot programme, were able to regain access to education through the payment of their school fees and the provision of school kits; 195 survivors are reported to have improved their socio-economic status after receiving training on how to manage a fund to start or strengthen a small business. 110 homeless and displaced survivors in the city of Bangui regained social stability in their households through the benefits of monthly rent payments.
  • During this quarter, 37 home visit for family mediation and consultation were held and 47 individual counselling session were conducted by the 7 psychotherapists upon skilled up on holistic approach. To ease the psychotherapy in groups, the survivors beneficiaries were constituted in to 21 small groups of 10-15 individuals.

377 972 Euros (177 972 Euros for Year 1 and 200 000 Euros for Year 2)

 

 

5 year multi-annual project, with an annual renewal conditioned by the availability of funds, the approval of the TFV Board of Directors and good performance in implementation of the project.

Medicins D’Afrique Centrafrique

 

Strengthening access to psychological care and material support for victims of conflict-related sexual violence in CAR

 

Bangui and surroundings

 

Total number of beneficiaries to date: 1049

1049 Victims of armed conflict

  • 683 survivors (483 female and 200 male) who received medical care returned to good physical health
  • 100 survivors (93 female and 7 male)  have strengthening their skills in the production of goods and services as a result of training in small business management and upon reception of small business start-up kit.

300 000 Euros

 

5 year multi-annual project, with an annual renewal conditioned by the availability of funds, the approval of the TFV Board of Directors and good performance in implementation of the project.

 

 

Activities & results from the reporting period

By 30 June 2022, a total of 6232 individuals (1742 males; 4490 females) received reparative measures through the TFV assistance programme in CAR.

  • In relation to psychological support, the assistance programme has contributed to greater improvement in the mental health stability and acceptance of the survivors as well as the social cohesion within their families and communities. As a result of a range of psychotherapy support services provided individually and collectively to the beneficiaries, 4142 survivors of sexual violence, rape, sexual slavery and abductions recovered their mental health balance and psychosocial well-being.
  • In order to facilitate follow-ups and customised psychosocial therapy, 94 social workers and health assistants were skilled up on psychosocial therapy, using a holistic approach. The installation and equipping of 20 psychotherapy centres within area of the programme has significantly facilitated psychotherapy activities and the entire community’s adherence to the programme for its sustainability.
  • So far, 494 psychotherapy sessions in groups were held and 80 psychotherapy groups constituted. As of today, 5891 survivors of sexual violence regained their dignity and acceptance within their families after a series of 1497 home visits aimed at conducting family mediation sessions as well as the prevention of victims’ stigmatisation.
  • As of responding to specific health care needs and addressing the physical harm suffered, 1739 survivors of sexual violence, rape and abductions in need of immediate health services and those suffering with pathological diseases associated with HIV-Aids have improved their health status and extended their life expectancy after appropriate medical care. This medical support included the payment of consultation fees, treatment of pathologies (medicines and medical care), and payment of transport costs/round trip to ease the access to the health centres.
  • Through partnership with 25 locally based medical health centres, 378 survivors living with serious medical problems as consequence of rape and sexual violence recovered after being referred for appropriate medical care such as gynaecological surgery (fistulas/prolapses). Furthermore, the physical health of 347 survivors of sexual violence, rape and abductions tested HIV/AIDS-positive were kept stabilised with the provision of dietary supplements, while undergoing antiretroviral treatments.
  • On the education level, through the granting of school objects and the payment of school fees, 242 children, indirect victims of sexual violence, were able to regain access to formal education. The education support has contributed to reduce the risks associated with children's rights violations.
  • To ensure psychological stability and the restoration of a dignified life of survivors with displacement and homeless status, the programme was able to contribute to the monthly rent of 110 survivors.
  • In response of the extreme poverty the survivors are living in, as a direct consequence the economic situation, the losses occurred and the crimes of sexual violence during the conflict, the assistance programme has contributed to the empowerment of the 1257 survivors by improving their socio-economic status, consisting in capacity building and vocational training in order to run small business activities. A total of 873 individuals survivors are self-employer and able to run a small business upon receiving start up income generating means, capacity building and vocational training. In order to guarantee their savings and loan, they have adhered to the Village and Saving Loans Associations (VSLA), as part of a longer-term strategy for attaining economic self-reliance.
  • A total of 100 individuals (50 couples) of survivors of rape and sexual violence, and their partners, strengthened their knowledge of gender equality and empowerment through training on positive masculinity. In addition, 8296 people including survivors of sexual violence participated in community peace education and awareness activities on the elimination of all forms of violence against women in CAR.

Challenges

  • The unstable political situation in CAR remains a major challenge to the implementation of programme activities. Insecurity persists in some localities in the project area, particularly in the prefectures of Ouham Pende, Ouham and Ombella Mpoko. This keeps survivors constantly in situations of displacement and limits the return of some displaced victims, and hinders any long-term planning of victims’ businesses among victims (survivors are sceptical about saving in banks or microfinance institutions for fear of resurgence of armed conflict).
  • The fuel shortage,[1] resulting from transportation issues from Congo Brazzaville due to the river's low water levels during the dry season, had a negative impact on the travel of staff to carry out certain activities, as well as the referrals of survivors. The fuel shortage significantly hindered the monitoring and evaluation activities in the field. The scarcity of fuel has led to soaring prices in the markets, negatively impacting survivors' businesses. The COVID-19 pandemic also remains a source of disruption to the full successful implementation of the programme. Whenever a beneficiary or staff member tested positive for Covid-19, everyone who had contact with them quarantined for 10-14 days with a negative impact on the execution of activities.
  • Organisational challenges relate to recurring leadership changes in the management of the implementing partner, which risks to compromise project implementation continuity.
  • Delay in transferring funds to implementing partners. The absence of project funds has not facilitated the execution of activities in the field, leading some survivors to express their indignation due to lack of access health services essential for their life. 

What’s next

  • The TFV will continue to engage with stakeholders through informal and formal meetings with CSOs, human rights organisations, Embassy representatives, United Nations agencies, MINUSCA, Global Fund for Survivors, Special criminal Court of CAR, government officials and other stakeholders.
  • Planned joint diplomatic mission and round table to Kinshasa in November 2022 with COCAR (coordination with the DRC team).
  • Monitoring and evaluation mission to Sibut, Damara, Kemo to be carried out from 24 to 28 October 2022.
  • Monitoring and evaluation mission in Bangui to be carried out 20 to 21 September 2022.
  • Field visit of the TFV activities with the EU delegation (foreseen the last quarter of 2022: to be confirmed).