Conflict-related sexual violence has scarred the lives of a very large number of victims in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This study compared the effects and effectiveness of sexual violence response programmes in 2011 and 2014. The central argument of this report is that while there have been some gains, such as victim-oriented support widening to community-based response, greater attention being paid to other forms of gender-based violence, and other medical needs becoming more recognised, conflict-affected rape still remains the focus of international rhetoric. This makes it difficult to scrutinise programmes for effectiveness. Plus a major concern is that accusations of sexual violence are often used for revenge or extortion, and as a result citizens are more disengaged with the issue. To effect change, six recommendations are proposed.

Douma, Nynke, Hilhorst, Dorothea and Matabaro, Jocelyne (2015) ‘Getting the balance right? Sexual violence response in the DRC: A comparison between 2011 and 2014’ Secure Livelihoods Research Consortium (SLRC) and the Justice and Security Research Programme (JSRP).

To download the report in French, please click here.

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Note: articles present the views of their authors, and not necessarily the position of the Justice and Security Research Programme, nor of the London School of Economics and Political Science.