Edwige fights Sexual and Gender Based Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Women are not considered equal to men in my country

Edwige works for War Child UK's project fighting Sexual and Gender Based Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

    • Date:
    • Author: Clemence Muzard, Africa Programmes Team

    • Type

      Blog

    • Theme

      Livelihoods

    • Region

      DRC

Working so closely with women and children, Edwige has seen first-hand the inequality and injustice that women and children face.  

Read extracts from our recent discussion, where she told me what it's like growing up as a girl in the DRC and be inspired by her drive to improve conditions for Congolese women.

 

"The challenges women and girls face in the DRC 

Women are not considered equal to men in my country. 

It's linked to aspects of our culture. 

People would listen to a 7-year-old boy, but would not listen to an old woman, just because she is a woman."  

 

Most victims of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) never even have the opportunity to know who the rapist or attacker is. This affects the healing process for a survivor- they should be able to know. 

And even when they know who the attacker is, women may not get reparation or justice. Following an attack, they can face stigma and are often rejected by their husband and family. 

This combination of marginalization, rejection and a lack of reparation increases the pain for these women and girls. 

Women and children are the most vulnerable to Sexual and Gender Based Violence in the DRC.
Women and children are the most vulnerable to Sexual and Gender Based Violence in the DRC.

The fight to protect women and children 

Women and children are the most vulnerable to Sexual and Gender Based Violence and we need to do more to protect them. 

Strengthening the capacity of local leaders, authorities and the police is instrumental to ensure attackers are held accountable in front of the law and in the eyes of survivors.  

War Child's projects with legal structures and young people within the community are vital to help people to better understand their rights. 

When women and girls know their rights, they have the right information to stand up and make their own choices.  

 

A hopeful future for women's equality 

In the past, men had more chances because our communities would assume men were more able to work, while women would be better off taking care of the home and children.  

We often invest in boys at the expense of investing in girls, when they should benefit from the same opportunities. 

 

Joint efforts are being put together to ensure women and girls in the DRC can have equal opportunities to men.
James Marcus Haney/War Child UK
Assuming women are the only ones able to work in the house is discriminatory and denies them other opportunities.

"Things are changing and joint efforts are being put together to ensure women can have equal opportunities to men.  

Take, for example, the Gender and Family Minister in the DRC. She supports women's causes and is a strong leader.  

Actually, the reason why I decided to study law and pursue my career is because seeing a female judge and a woman wearing the lawyer's gown inspired me.  

When I see a female president of a country, women at high level positions or even my colleagues contributing to our work at War Child, it also inspires me. 

I wish for all women in the DRC to be able to take part in decision making. I want them to sit at the same table as men discussing and reflecting on decisions affecting our society.  

I want to see women leading big companies, research, and contributing to the development of humanity.  

I wish women could contribute more and more to decisions made in this world."

 

More than 57% of women in the DRC have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lives.  

Many cases of sexual violence are neither reported to local authorities nor investigated. 

As part of our team working in the DRC, Edwige plays a vital role. Her work for War Child ensures that women and children are protected against abuse. 

And we can only do this with the support of people like you.