Congolese Women Living in Fear
A Report finds Congolese Women Living in Fear of Growing Violence
Learn more about life for women in the DR Congo by reading a briefing, "The Democractic Republic of Congo Survey: Stronger Women, Stronger Nations."
As the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) celebrates fifty years of independence on 30th June, a comprehensive new research report published today by Women for Women International, found sexual violence against women is increasing and that many women are living in fear, because of growing violence from the militia and within their own communities.
The Women for Women International DRC 2010 Stronger Women, Stronger Nations Report, spoke to a representative sample of approximately 1800 women and 200 men in rural and urban areas in the eastern provinces, to find out about their views and personal experiences, enabling the charity to focus the spotlight on a population rarely listened to, or heard from in the conflict.
The situation has become so extreme that Margaret Wallstrom the UN's special representative on sexual violence in conflict, has called the DRC "the rape capital of the world".
"Women in the Congo told us that a lack of security to protect them both from the militia (the Congolese army and opposing factions) and from a newer threat — that of their neighbours, is their biggest concern.
"The lack of military discipline, of policing and legal protection for women who face, or who have been attacked, has created an environment, where the men who carry out rapes and sexual attacks have little to fear.
However women told us fear — owing to daily insecurities, trauma and violence is having a severe impact on their mental health and physical wellbeing and their everyday lives". Says Kate Nustedt, Executive Director of Women for Women International UK.
Women have been specifically targeted within this conflict. In first 9 months of 2009 alone there were 7,500 reported cases of rape in eastern DRC. Girls as young as two and women as old as 80 have been victims of rape and sexual violence (Human Rights Watch)
Sexual violence is rampant in the region with one woman being raped every two hours in the eastern province of South Kivu. (OCHA, 2010)
"Despite this backdrop of war, poverty and sexual violence, women in DRC are holding families together. Their resilience and strength shines through. Of the women we surveyed a staggering 93% are working. They continue to support their families and believe that peace is achievable". Says Christine Karumba WFWI's Programme Director for the DRC.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeMkMlXk3NM
"Our 2010 DRC Stronger Women Stronger Nations Report provides an insight into the situation for both men and women in DRC. It shows how no one is exempt from the stranglehold of violence on the population - men and women, boys and girls - all endure the costs.
"Security is consistently ranked by those surveyed as the priority issue for improving living situations and it is the linchpin for community recovery. Without a resolution of the broader conflict, a normal life for women and their families is not possible". Continues Christine.
The scale of violence in DRC is well documented. More than 5.4 million have died since the conflict began in 1998. The death toll is equivalent to an Asian Tsunami every six months or so and a September 11th every 2.5 days.
1200 women, men and children in the Congo are dying every day — with half of these being children under 5, because of the conflict and humanitarian crisis which rages in the eastern part of the country.
Our Research found:
Out of every 100 women in DRC:
- 40 have lost their home
- 80 do not own a mattresses
- 40 never attended school
- 50 eat only one meal a day
- 80 earn US $1 or less per day
- 80 are from villages that have been attacked
- 80 think their current village will be attacked
- 50 have spouses who left because of war
- 50 are afraid to work outside of their home
- 80 are unhappy with their lives today
- 70 think about hurting themselves
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Health and emotional well-being are severely degraded by violence.
Violence and insecurity is still a daily reality for the people of the DRC. 80% of women surveyed report having their former village attacked and 75% believe their current village will be. The war is taking its toll on family structures. 74.7% reported having lost family members due to the war, 80.1% have lost family due to illness.
The constant atmosphere of violence and insecurity and the breakdown of the family due to war is leading to a near mental health epidemic in the eastern province of Kivus.
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Health and wealth go hand in hand.
Almost all (93%) of women are working. Despite the number of women working, 95% are living in absolute poverty, and women in our sample are well below accepted average income levels.
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Women with higher income levels have better physical health and well-being.
They save more money to support their families and eat more meals per day. They are respected by their families and communities, think less about hurting themselves, and know where to seek help and information.
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The war burdens women with increased responsibilities.
Only 2.4% of women reported that their husbands remain at home. This separation inflicted by the war leaves women to shoulder enormous burdens as they take over tasks formerly carried out by men in addition to those for which they are traditionally responsible. Lack of security makes these tasks even harder.
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Men suffer along with women.
Men have been affected by sexual violence at a higher level than previously understood, with similar emotional effects as women. Male abuse victims suffer from extremely high rates of unemployment.
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Group participation offers enormous recovery benefits.
Overall 80% of women surveyed agreed or strongly agreed that being part of a group helps them make friends, express themselves, increase their incomes, and be part of their community.
Women for Women International is calling on the international community, the UK government and the UN to work with the Congolese government to:
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Improve the security situation.
Improved security results in a variety of improvements from strengthening the economy to preventing sexual abuse. When asked what they felt would help to prevent sexual violence, women surveyed mentioned increasing access to justice, more visible enforcement efforts, and promoting increased rights awareness in communities.
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Address mental health.
Despite extensive documentation on the detrimental effects of trauma on reconstruction and development, only a small percentage of funds cover mental health programmes. An increased focus on mental health is needed and in order to ensure women's priorities are advanced, women must be at the decision-making table.
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Invest in women.
The link between health and wealth means that investment in women has broad multiplier effects which strengthen communities. A series of studies have found that when women hold assets or gain incomes, family money is more likely to be spent on nutrition, medicine and housing, and consequently children are healthier.
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Involve men in solutions for women.
Men are key allies in women's advancement and must be involved to change the lives, opportunities, and prospects for women. Many men want to be more inclusive but need skills and awareness.
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Channel local momentum for peace.
Despite the grim realities, our survey showed the women and men we talked to were optimistic about the future of the region; a majority (63%) believe there can be peace in eastern DRC within the next 12 months. Policymakers must harness this grassroots support for peace, to make negotiation stakeholders accountable to their local communities.
Notes to editor
- Interview bids — Women for Women International's Programme Director for the Democratic Republic of Congo Christine Karumba, will be visiting the UK from 4 — 10 July to raise awareness of the growing conflict in DRC and to press the UK government to help secure a more peaceful and stable future for the country.
- We have photography and broadcast quality film coverage available on request
- A summary of the The Democratic Republic of Congo: emer Women, emer Nations Report 2010 research and report is available on request
- Women for Women International is part of the Congo Now campaign a 30 em coalition of organisations including Oxfam, which presses for effective political action by the UK to end suffering in DRC and bring about badly needed improvements in security and governance. www.congonow.org
Who we are
Women for Women International (WfWI) is a not for profit organisation which has been working with women in war torn nations for 16 years. We provide women survivors of war, civil strife and other conflicts with the tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency, thereby promoting viable civil societies.
Since 2004, WfWI has provided support to 31,195 women in the DRC. 11,811 women are currently in our DRC programmes. Our year long programme offers women rights awareness and life-skills training, development of vocational and business skills and opportunities for micro finance and help in identifying potential markets for self employment.
For example, 106 Congolese women are now making a living from tile production after taking part in our programme. Tile making is a lucrative and sustainable income-generating activity. The women have been trained in business planning and development and are now actively building a co-operative.
We also run an innovative Men's Leadership Training Programme which helps male leaders gain a crucial insight into women's rights and helps them leverage their community influence on behalf of women. Engaging with men is paramount for lasting community change.
The impact of what we do in the Congo
Our survey covered roughly equal numbers of women who had and hadn't been on our year long programme.
The research showed that women who had been on our programmes are more aware of their rights and therefore engage more actively within their communities. Our programmes empower women economically, which has knock-on effects for women and children's health.
WfWI-affiliates' incomes are on average 40% higher than those who hadn't been in the programme - an encouraging testimony to the power of group participation and skills building opportunities for women. WfWI-affiliated women reported overall better health than non-WfWI-affiliated women.
WfWI-affiliated women are twice as likely as non-WfWI-affiliated women to report a variety of community engagements, showing that when women have knowledge of their rights, they choose to actively engage in society
