Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

The Archbishop of Canterbury’s ministry in international development has a particular focus on the situation of women and children affected by armed conflict. The people of DR Congo, within the wider Great Lakes region, have been acutely affected by over two decades of conflict. During this time the Anglican Church of Congo has remained alongside its communities. When government and NGO services have ceased, the churches stay in their local areas, continuing to provide pastoral care and health and education services in the most challenging of contexts.

The Archbishop of Canterbury follows the situation in DRC closely, and speaks out with the Archbishop of Congo on issues of peace and justice. The Archbishop’s International Development Secretariat (IDS) visits DRC regularly and supports the churches in their response to peace and development issues. The recent focus has been on sexual violence and HIV. IDS has worked with other NGO and UN partners to assist the Church in Congo to respond to these issues in their local communities. The Church adopts an integrated approach to HIV, encompassing prevention initiatives through its schools and churches, treatment programmes through its health facilities and pastoral care and support through its community outreach.

The Anglican Church of Congo has initiated a specific initiative to combat sexual violence, used as a weapon of war in the conflict but now becoming endemic within communities. The Church has established the Women’s Union for the Advancement of Peace in Society, which works in collaboration with the Mothers’ Union. It works to prevent sexual violence through raising awareness of the laws that punish perpetrators and to support survivors of sexual violence through care programmes and by sensitising communities to challenge related social stigma.

The IDS works to facilitate support for the social development and peace building work of the Anglican Church of Congo. The Archbishop of Canterbury regularly advocates for peace and for the protection of children and women from the impact of conflict and social disruption.

Recent items relating to the Democratic Republic of the Congo are shown below: