A survivor behind every number: using programme data on violence against women and girls in the Democratic Republic of Congo to influence policy and practice

Abstract

Designing and implementing programmes that seek to respond to, and prevent, violence against women and girls (VAWG) saves lives and mitigates the consequences of such violence for survivors. With the right evidence about the scale and nature of VAWG, practitioners, donors, and policymakers can improve programming, support VAWG services where they are needed, and develop policies to address VAWG. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a leading international non-government organisation (NGO) with VAWG programmes in over 18 countries worldwide, and it is one of the only NGOs with a dedicated technical unit on women's protection and empowerment. It has over ten years of experience in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a country where reports of pervasive acts of violence against women and girls have attracted significant international attention. With a strong emphasis on evidence-based and evidence-generating programming, the IRC carefully collects VAWG data as part of the services provided to up to 3,000 VAWG survivors per year in the DRC. In this paper, the IRC shares its experience on VAWG data, and how this information can be interpreted as well as how it is often misinterpreted.Diseñar e implementar programas que buscan hacer frente y prevenir la violencia contra las mujeres y las niñas (vcmn) salva vidas y reduce las consecuencias de dicha violencia para las sobrevivientes. Si cuentan con información idónea en relación a la prevalencia y la naturaleza de la vcmn, las operadoras, los donantes y los formuladores de políticas pueden mejorar los programas, apoyar los servicios de atención frente a la vcmn allí donde sean necesarios e instrumentar políticas que la enfrenten. El Comité Internacional de Rescate (cir) es una reconocida ong internacional que ha implementado programas destinados a reducir la vcmn en más de dieciocho países alrededor del mundo, siendo una de las pocas ong que cuenta con una unidad técnica especializada en la protección y el empoderamiento de las mujeres. Tiene presencia en la rdc, país en el que, desde hace más de diez años, los informes relativos a los actos generalizados de violencia contra las mujeres y niñas han atraído la atención internacional de manera significativa. Debido a su trayectoria vinculada con el impulso de programas basados en la evidencia, que a la vez generan evidencia, el cir recaba cuidadosamente las estadísticas relacionadas con la vcmn como un aspecto más de los servicios que cada año brinda a más de tres mil sobrevivientes de la vcmn en la rdc. En el presente artículo, el cir comparte sus aprendizajes basados en las estadísticas de vcmn, ofreciendo opiniones respecto a cómo puede ser interpretada esta información y en relación a la manera en que frecuentemente la misma termina siendo malinterpretada.La conception et la mise en aeuvre de programmes qui cherchent à réagir aux violences faites aux femmes et aux filles (VFF) et à la prévenir sauvent des vies et atténuent les conséquences de ces violences pour les survivantes. Avec les bonnes données fa...

Unsettled integration: Pre- and post-migration factors in Congolese refugee women’s resettlement experiences in the United States

“…In addition, feelings of abandonment and rejection by family and friends, concerns about providing for self and family, fear, and stigma are pronounced (Bartels et al, 2010, 2013; Kelly et al, 2012). While conflict-related sexual violence has been rampant in the DRC context, it must be understood within a broader context of gender inequality and other forms of violence against women and girls (Watts et al, 2013; Guimond and Robinette, 2014). For instance, women in the DRC also report high rates of violence perpetrated by intimate partners with 35 percent of women reporting sexual violence and 57 percent reporting physical violence by a partner (MEASURE, 2007–2012, as cited in Watts et al, 2013).…”

How Narratives of Fear Shape Girls’ Participation in Community Life in Two Conflict-Affected Populations

“…Finally, in comparison with the more extensive programming on girls and safety, there has been relatively limited research and intervention focused on influencing boys’ and men’s levels of respect for women’s presence and rights within the public domain (Erulkar, Apicella, & Ferede, 2011; Hossain et al, 2014). Although there have been efforts to develop women’s collective empowerment within the public domain, there continue to be high levels of GBV experienced by girls and women in fragile conflict-affected populations, particularly against those who are perceived to transgress male-dominated spaces (Bandiera et al, 2012; Barker, Ricardo, & Nascimento, 2007; Blanc, Melnikas, Chau, & Stoner, 2013; Brady et al, 2007; Guimond & Robinette, 2014; Lewis, 2006; Trenholm, Olsson, & Ahlberg, 2011). Addressing male presence in and dominance of public spaces, along with boys’ and men’s contributions to the prevalence of sexual violence, is an essential component of future research and intervention.…”