Security Sector Reform

SFCG project coordinator Leon Baroani leading the training for 750 members of an integrated military brigade in Ituri Province

Years of war and insecurity, in which members of the various armed forces have abused human rights, have tarnished military-civilian relations. SFCG supports the ongoing Security Sector Reform in collaboration with the Congolese army, in a project to reinforce their respect of human rights, enhance their conflict transformation skills, and improve military-civilian relations.

The aims of this work are:

• Raise awareness of human rights and conflict transformation within the Congolese army, and raise their capacity to train others in these areas;
• Raise awareness amongst civilians of the DDR and SSR processes underway and support their successful realisation
• Close monitoring through military committees to track human rights violations by soldiers through the justice system

The multi-media and training project works with FARDC to enable in-force educators to carry out awareness-raising on human rights and conflict transformation, while committees at the battalion level undertake regular monitoring.
SFCG’s unique training module combines a descriptive “image box”, as well as audio sketches, participatory theatre and other interactive tools to encourage broader respect for human rights among members of the FARDC, while promoting better relations between the military and civilian population. Each committee member is provided with a teaching tool kit at the end of their participation in the TOT.

Radio outreach
SFCG produces a weekly radio soap opera in Lingala and Swahili entitled ‘Tomorrow is a new Day” in which themes related to army integration, the demobilization and reintegration of ex-combattants and relations with civilians are developed through a lively set of characters. This is broadcast throughout the country on SFCG’s 100 partner radio stations.

Comic Books
SFCG produced 40,000 copies of a comic book entitled “Tomorrow is a New Day” retracing one story line from the radio drama, focusing on the fight against impunity for crimes committed by soldiers against civilians. This has been distributed to military and civilians in North and South Kivu and Kinshasa.

Outreach through sports and culture
SFCG organizes face-to-face meetings between military and civilians, using sports, culture and dialogue to improve relations and promote peaceful cohesion among the two groups.

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