Protecting the Rights of Women and Girls in Post-Conflict Humanitarian Contexts in the D.R. Congo
Author(s)
JIAN JISONG , NSAKA KABUNDA ANNE MARIE ,
Download Full PDF Pages: 01-10 | Views: 1075 | Downloads: 286 | DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3491871
Abstract
Current conflicts, the development of new forms of combat and strategies adopted by the parties to a conflict, are increasingly affecting women and girls. Thus, far from being spared, women and girls are now placed at the heart of conflicts and become one of the main victims, not only because they constitute a large part of the civilian population but also because of their vulnerability. In DR Congo, a country that has been experiencing intermittent armed conflict for more than a decade and whose human cost would be the highest in a state after the Second World War, women and girls are among the civilians whose rights are most violated.
During the period under review, January to December 2017 the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) verified 804 cases of conflict-related sexual violence, affecting 507 women, 265 girls, 30 men, and 2 boys, representing an increase from the previous reporting period. During the same period, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reported 5,783 cases of sexual violence in conflict-affected provinces, more than twice as many as in 2016. Approximately 72 percent of cases were attributed to non-State armed groups, notably Two militia in Tanganyika and the ‘‘Force de résistance patriotique de l’Ituri’’ (FRPI) operating in Irumu territory in Ituri. More than half of the sexual assaults by FRPI involved multiple attackers, and 40 percent of incidents were perpetrated in conjunction with looting, pillage, and theft. There was an increase in the number of incidents attributed to both FARDC (28 percent) and the Congolese National Police (109 percent) in 2017. Over one third of those sexually assaulted by members of the national police were being detained in police custody at the time.
Keywords
Rights Protection, Women and Girls, Conflict, Humanitarian, D.R. Congo.
References
i. Banza K., ‘‘La Question des enfants soldats. Cas de la RDC’’ in Le Travail en Afrique noire: Servitude ou liberation? Actes des premières journées philosophiques Théophiles Reyn tenues à Lubumbashi du 7 au 9 Novembre 2002, Institut Facultaire Théophiles Reyn, Lubumbashi, 2004, 67.
ii. Baranyi S. and Powell K., ‘‘Fragile States, Gender Equality and Aid Effectiveness: A Review of Donor Perspectives’’, Report prepared for CID, The North-South Institute, Ottawa, 2005.
iii. Brück T. & Schindler K., ‘‘The Impact of Conflict and Fragility on Households: A Conceptual Framework with Reference to Widows’’, UNU-WIDER Research Paper no. 83, United Nations University, 2008.
iv. Buscher D., ‘‘Displaced Women and Girls at Risk Factors, Protection Solutions and Resource Tools’’, Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children, New York, 2006.
v. Buvinic M., Gupta M.D., Casabonne U. & Verwimp P., Violent conflict and gender inequality: an overview. The World Bank Research Observer, 28(1), 2013, 110-138.
vi. Caprioli M., ‘‘Gender Equality and Civil War’’, World Bank Conflict Prevention and Reconstruction Unit, Working Paper no. 8, World Bank, Washington D.C, 2003.
vii. Castillejo C., ‘‘Building State that Works for Women: Integrating Gender into Post-Conflict State Building’’, FRIDE, Madrid, 2011.
viii. Chenut K. M., ‘‘ La Protection des enfants en temps de conflit et le phénomène des enfants soldats’’ in J.M. Sorel et C.L. Popescu (dir), La Protection des personnes vulnérables en temps de conflit armé, Bruxelles, Bruylant, 2010, p.89.
ix. Cockburn C., ‘‘Gender Relations as Causal in Militarization and War’’, International Feminist Journal of Politics, 2010, 12:2, 139-157
x. Eric David, Principes de Droit de Conflits Armés, 3e ed., Bruxelles, Bruylant, 2002, p. 246.
xi. Foran S., Swaine A. and Burns K., Improving the effectiveness of humanitarian action : progress in implementing the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Gender Marker, Gender & Development, 2012, 20 (2), 233-247.
xii. Goetz A-M. and Treiber A-K., Gender and conflict analysis, Policy Briefing Paper, UNIFEM, 2006.
xiii. Harcourt W., ‘‘Literature Review on Gender and Fragility’’, European Report on Development, 2009.
xiv. ICRC, International Humanitarian Law, Geneva, ICRC Production, July 2004, 4.
xv. Mazurana D. & Carlson K., ‘‘The Girl Child and Armed Conflict: Recognising and Addressing Grave Violations of Girl’s Human Rights’’, Background paper for Expert Group Meeting in Florence, Italy, 25-28 September 2006.
xvi. Melander E., ‘‘Gender Equality and Intraste Armed Conflict’’, International Studies Quarterly, vol. 49, 2005, pp. 703; Caprioli M., ‘‘Gender Equality and Civil War’’, World Bank Conflict Prevention and Reconstruction Unit, Working Paper no. 8, World Bank, Washington D.C, 2003.
xvii. Melander E., ‘‘Gender Equality and Intraste Armed Conflict’’, International Studies Quarterly, vol. 49, 2005, pp. 695-714.
xviii. Moser A., ‘‘The Peace and Conflict Gender Analysis: UNIFEM’s Research in Salomon Islands’’, Gender and Development, vol. 15, no. 2, 2007.
xix. Nordås R., ‘‘Sexual Violence in African Conflicts’’, CSCW Policy Brief, Centre for the Study of Civil War, PRIO, Oslo, 2011. Leatherman J., Sexual Violence and armed conflict, Cambridge: Polity, 2011.
xx. Nsaka Kabunda A-M., ‘‘Protection des droits de la femme à la non-discrimination et à la parité de genre par les institutions et les Etats membres de l’Union Africaine. Une étude comparative, communication lors de la conference international sur le 30e annivesaire de la Charte africaine des Droits de l’Homme et des peuples, organisé par UNISA, Pretoria, 5 au 7 Novembre 2012.
xxi. Nsaka Kabunda A-M., Femme et Conflits armés dans la région des Grands Lacs : Cas de la RD Congo, in Ndeshyo Rurihose O. (sous dir.), Le Nouvel élan du panafricanisme, l’émergence de l’Afrique et la nécessité de l’intégration continentale : « Les actes des journées scientifiques consacrées á la commémoration de la journée de l’Afrique : 2011-2012-2013-2014 », Kinshasa, CEDESURK, 2014, p. 54.
xxii. Nsaka Kabunda A-M., Role of the United Nations in Resolving the Armed Conflicts in the African Great Lakes Region: The Case of The Democratic Republic of Congo, Master Thesis in International Law, Law School of China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL), Beijing, China, 2015, p.34.
xxiii. O’Gorman E. and Clifton Everest I., ‘‘Review of Gender Issues Including Strategies against Gender-Based Violence in Humanitarian Interventions’’, European Commission Directorate General for Humanitarian Aid (DG ECHO), European Commission Report, 2009.
xxiv. Pillay A., ‘‘Gender, Peace and Peacekeeping: Lessons from Southern Africa’’, ISS Paper 128, Institute for Security Studies, Pretoria, 2006.
xxv. Pillay Navanethm, Rapport du Projet Mapping Concernant les Violations les plus Graves des Droits de l’Homme et du Droit International Humanitaire commises entre mars 1993 et juin 2003 sur le Territoire de la RD Congo. Geneva: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, 2010.
xxvi. Plümper T. and Neumayer E., ‘‘The Unequal Burden of War: The Effect of Armed Conflict on the Gender Gap in Life Expectancy’’, Government Department, Unversity of Essex, 2005.
xxvii. Puechguirbal N., ‘‘The Cost of Ignoring Gender in Conflict and Post-Conflict Situations: A Feminist Perspective’’, Amsterdam Law Forum, vol. 4, no. 1, 2012, pp. 4-19.
xxviii. Rollinde M. (2010), « Genre et conflits : Femmes victimes, femmes résistantes, femmes pour la paix », revue Aspects, Dossier thématique n°4 : « Les acteurs non étatiques dans les conflits armés » pp.115-133.
xxix. Schmeidl S. and Piza Lopez E., ‘‘Gender and Conflict Early Warning: A Framework for Action’’, International Alert, London, 2002.
xxx. Schmeidl S. and Piza Lopez E., ‘‘Gender and Conflict Early Warning: A Framework for Action’’, International Alert, London, 2002.
xxxi. Seelinger K.T., Freccero J. and Stout A., Safe Haven : Sheltering Displaced Persons from Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. Comparative Report, Human Rights Center, University of California, Berkeley, 2013.
xxxii. UNHCR, ‘‘UNHCR Handbook for the Protection of Women and Girls’’, UNHCR, Geneva, 2008.
xxxiii. Utas Mats (2005b). “Agency of Victims : Young Women in the Liberation Civil War.” In Alcinda Hohwana and Filip De Boeck, eds, Makers and Breakers : Children and Youth in Postcolonial Africa. Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press, pp. 53-80.
xxxiv. Walton O., ‘‘Key Resouces on Gender and Humanitarian Responses’’, Helpdesk Research Report, Governance and Social Development Resource Centre, Birmingham, UK,2011.
xxxv. Ward J. and Marsh M., ‘‘Sexual Violence Against Women and Girls in War and its Aftermath: Realities, Responses and Required Resources’’, Briefing Paper, United Nations Population Fund, 2006.
xxxvi. Women’s Refugee Commission, ‘‘Preventing Gender-based Violence, Building Livelihoods: Guidance and Tools for Improved Programming’’, Women’s Refugee Commission, New York, 2011.
Cite this Article: