2010-07-01 15:58

KINSHASA - UN secretary general Ban ki-Moon inaugurated on Wednesday in Kinshasa the UN mission for Stabilization of the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO).

The new mandate of MONUSCO which takes over from the UN mission in DR Congo (MONUC) will continue giving priority to the protection of civilians especially women who are weighed upon by heavy burdens, Radio Okapi reported, quoting Ban.

Speaking before a number of representatives of various United Nations agencies who were gathered at the MONUSCO headquarters, Ban ki-Moon insisted on the need to protect civilians and fight against sexual violence.

"All actors including the governmental forces should be engaged in fighting against sexual violence. In my position as the secretary general, I will not spare any effort in trying to fight against this great violation of one of the fundamental human rights," he pointed out.

Ban ki-Moon used the occasion to introduce his new special representative in DR Congo, Roger Meece.

MONUSCO is comprised of a maximum number of 19,815 soldiers, 760 military observers, 391 police functionaries and 1,050 police units.