Comprehensive program for the promotion of the educational, economic, and social rights of young women victims of violence in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Location: Goma, North Kivu.
- Duration: December 2016 to December 2017.
- Participants: Women and adolescents who are victims of violence, living in situations of inequality and extreme vulnerability.
- Area of specialization: Vocational training and micro-entrepreneurship.
Starting point
The project is being developed in Goma, in the North Kivu region, located on the border with Rwanda. This area is one of the most conflict-ridden in Africa, suffering the consequences of intermittent war since 1996. Rural populations migrate to the city in search of safety, along with thousands of displaced people from the armed conflict in Rwanda. This situation has rapidly multiplied Goma’s population, giving rise to overcrowding where people live in very precarious conditions.
Congolese society is patriarchal, and women live in situations of inequality compared to men. Furthermore, they have higher rates of illiteracy, most lack a paid salary in the formal economy, and have low participation in politics. This is compounded by the fact that they suffer serious violations of their civil, sexual, and reproductive rights and are often victims of violence.
In such a context, adolescent girls and children are the most vulnerable. Furthermore, they are the ones who suffer most from poverty.
Objective
The project’s objective is to provide comprehensive support and remedy the violation of the right to a dignified life, free from violence, suffered by adolescents and women in Goma.
What is the project about
Awareness-raising sessions will be held for women, men, and communities to promote change in the behaviors that perpetuate violence against women in Congolese society. The goal is also to strengthen participants’ ability to actively participate in decision-making that affects them.
Work will be done to promote women’s rights at all stages of their personal development and provide comprehensive support for their physical and psychological recovery. Women will also be provided with a safe environment where they can recover and build a new identity.
On the other hand, women’s empowerment is also fostered by promoting their technical training and professional integration, enabling them to access decent and stable employment or launch small businesses. This will allow them to have their own income and financial independence, with the resulting improvement in the living conditions of their homes.
Entities that support this project
