DRC – Crisis and care: Navigating reproductive health in DRC’s conflict zones

September 2, 2025
Habygaelle Muzie, Communications Advisor, Ipas DRC

Since February 2025, the cities of Goma in North Kivu and Bukavu in South Kivu, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, have been under the control of the M23 Movement, a rebel paramilitary group.

This has led to a complete reshuffling of local authorities and widespread security instability. Between February and August 2025, over 10,000 cases of rape and sexual violence were reported in North and South Kivu provinces, according to UNICEF. Ipas DRC has also received reports of mass rapes, sexual mutilation, and assaults committed in conflict zones or during forced displacement. Access to sexual and reproductive health care has become extremely limited, if not absent, in some areas. Women and girls who survive rape are left without medical care, psychological support, or access to essential services such as emergency contraception or sexually transmitted infections.

Continued: https://www.ipas.org/news/reproductive-health-in-drc-conflict-zones/

02.09.2025

Commentary

Dr. Justin Mumbere

Dr. Moise Musa Byamungu

Habygaelle Muzie

Ipas DRC

M23 Movement

National Program for Reproductive Health

sexual and reproductive health care

sexual violence

Africa

Democratic Republic of Congo

Health

Human Rights

Unsafe Abortion

These 7 changemakers are advancing reproductive justice despite tremendous challenges

March 7, 2025
Ipas

The fight for reproductive justice is facing especially hard times, and the path ahead will not be easy. But the truth is that we’ve already made incredible progress, and we know how to keep moving forward.

In the past 30 years, 60 countries have changed their abortion laws—and only four decreased access. We at Ipas worked in many of those countries that expanded abortion rights. We saw firsthand that the fight is never easy—and never over. Behind historic gains like abortion law change, health centers that offer high-quality abortion care, and communities that support every person’s bodily autonomy are years of hard work, resistance, persistence and advocates who continue, step by step, toward their goal—no matter what.

Continued: https://www.ipas.org/news/7-changemakers-advancing-reproductive-justice/

DRC – Dr. Jean-Claude Mulunda: Breaking the silence on the need for safe abortion care in humanitarian settings

IPAS
Feb 28, 2025

Early in his career, Ipas Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) director Dr. Jean-Claude Mulunda, then a coordinator with a refugee agency, was confronted with the plight of women and girls who had suffered sexual violence fleeing Central African Republic for refuge in DRC.

“In my report to the supervisor, I noted that over 60% of the women and girls were rape victims. Many of them, including little girls who could not be more than 12, were pregnant. They were also dealing with sexually transmitted infections and malnutrition,” he explains.

Continued; https://www.ipas.org/news/drc-safe-abortion-care-in-humanitarian-settings/

Ipas celebrates 21st anniversary of Maputo Protocol with regional conference in Mozambique

Event highlights the importance of collective action to fulfill the protocol’s promise of reproductive rights that include abortion access

August 9, 2024

Marking the 21st anniversary of the landmark Maputo Protocol, which guarantees extensive rights to African women and girls, Ipas hosted a two-day regional conference in Mozambique devoted to exploring the challenges and successes of implementing this fundamental treaty for gender equity.

“We were thrilled to host this conference in honor of the Maputo Protocol, a groundbreaking legal milestone that has been crucial in advancing women’s rights across Africa, including the essential right to safe and legal abortion,” says Jorge Matine, Country Director of Ipas Mozambique. “The passionate engagement by attendees in advancing and safeguarding abortion access across Southern Africa was truly inspiring. It’s a testament to the progress we’ve made and a powerful reminder that we must accelerate our efforts to ensure no woman or girl is left behind.”

Continued: https://www.ipas.org/news/ipas-celebrates-21st-anniversary-of-maputo-protocol-with-regional-conference-in-mozambique/

Ipas DRC and Canada partner for sustainable access to reproductive health care in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Access to safe and legal abortion and contraception improves the health of women and girls and represents a fundamental human right. The ability to decide if and when to become pregnant is a symbol of reproductive justice and gender equality.

HABYGAELLE MUZIE, Communications Advisor
APRIL 15, 2024

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the publication of the Maputo Protocol in the official gazette has been followed by other milestones, such as the publication of a circular guaranteeing access to abortion care in line with the Protocol’s indications and the Ministry of Public Health’s adherence in 2020 to the evolving standards and directives relating to the application of the Protocol’s guidelines. All these actions made DRC the first country in French-speaking Africa to have implemented far-reaching changes promoting wider access to abortion care.

Continued: https://www.ipas.org/country-impact/ipas-drc-and-canada-partner-for-sustainable-access-to-reproductive-health-care-in-the-democratic-republic-of-congo/

Government of Canada commits to increasing sexual and reproductive rights including access to abortion services

IPAS
July 21, 2023

Ipas is pleased to announce a partnership with the government of Canada to increase access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care for women and girls in Bolivia, Indonesia, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The Canadian government has pledged $10 million CAD for programmatic work in Bolivia, Indonesia and Nigeria to increase the sexual and reproductive autonomy of women and girls by expanding their access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services and enhancing their ability to make decisions about their own sexual and reproductive health.

Continued: https://www.ipas.org/news/government-of-canada-commits-to-increasing-sexual-and-reproductive-rights-including-access-to-abortion-services/

Legal access to abortion expands in Democratic Republic of Congo

Legal access to abortion expands in Democratic Republic of Congo

Thursday, July 26, 2018

In an historic shift toward greater fulfillment of women’s sexual and reproductive rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), women can now legally access abortion under a broader range of conditions—including in cases of sexual assault, rape or incest, and when a continued pregnancy would endanger the mental and physical health of the woman or the life of the woman or the fetus.

“Months of advocacy by Ipas and our strategic partners in the DRC helped achieve this huge step forward for women’s rights,” says Patrick Djemo, Country Representative of Ipas DRC.

Continued: http://www.ipas.org/en/News/2018/July/Legal-access-to-abortion-expands-in-Democratic-Republic-of-Congo.aspx