Rule of Law Assistance related to Combating and Prosecuting Sexual and Gender Based Violence Crimes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s institutional capacity remains extremely weak and the inability of many state institutions to provide services contributes to the state’s fragility and has created governmental legitimacy issues in the eyes of citizens. Despite the end of the DRC’s civil war, communities continue to suffer from decades of war, mismanagement, and instability, with rebel groups still controlling strategic areas, despite the country hosting the longest-running UN peacekeeping mission in the world. The country has experienced mass atrocities, human rights abuses, and widespread sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). The United States Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), is seeking applications from qualified Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Educational Institutions and other qualified organizations for a cooperative agreement to implement a program entitled “Access to Justice for Sexual and Gender Based Violence Survivors in the Democratic Republic of the Congo”.