Protecting Communities in the DRC: Understanding Gender Dynamics and Empowering Women and Men

Women face many inequalities in the DRC. They play a very limited role in public life and constantly confront deep-seated attitudes and beliefs that perpetuate discrimination and gender-based violence. Following the 2006 elections, women accounted for only 9.4 per cent of seats in the national Parliament. The adult literacy rate (age 15 and over) is 65 per cent for the whole population, but 56 per cent for women compared with 78 per cent for men. Women are also under-represented in paid employment and are often denied rights of inheritance. In 2011, the maternal mortality rate was 670 per 100,000 live births.

Men and boys account for the majority of deaths that occur during fighting,5 while women and girls may be more affected by the broader impact of conflict, including in the aftermath of war, when repercussions are still being felt. In many societies, they will be made more vulnerable to the negative effects of conflict due to their unequal status and limited access to services and opportunities.

This short document discusses community approaches to changing behaviors and increasing women's participation without disempowering men.