scholarly journals Effects of an empowerment program for survivors of sexual violence on attitudes and beliefs: evidence from the Democratic Republic of Congo

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
John Quattrochi ◽  
Rosalie Biaba ◽  
Ragnhild Nordås ◽  
Gudrun Østby ◽  
Susanne Alldén ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Women's Empowerment ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Women’S Empowerment ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Domestic Sphere ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
Empowerment Program

Abstract Background Women’s empowerment may require women to change their beliefs and views about their rights and capabilities. Empowerment programs often target women who have survived sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), with the justification that these women may develop disempowered beliefs as a coping mechanism, or face greater barriers to, or derive greater benefits from, the adoption of empowered beliefs and preferences. We investigated an intensive, six-month residential empowerment program (“City of Joy”) for SGBV survivors in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where more than one in five women have experienced SGBV. Methods We asked 175 participants about their beliefs and preferences pertaining to political, financial, and domestic empowerment. Interviews took place immediately before and after participation in the program, and we tested for differences in views of empowerment between entry and exit using paired t-tests and McNemar’s test. We also conducted 50 semi-structured interviews about empowerment with an additional 30 women who had completed the program up to 5 years earlier and then returned to their home community. Results Prior to enrolling in the program, participants had fairly empowered views regarding politics, less empowered views regarding finances, and still less empowered views regarding the domestic sphere. After completing the program, participants had significantly more empowered views in all three domains, particularly regarding domestic violence, how families should treat men and women, and women’s economic rights. Participants in their home communities reported taking a more active role in community affairs and speaking out against the mistreatment of women. Conclusion This study adds to the evidence that women’s empowerment programs can change participants’ beliefs and thus increase the confidence with which they participate in their communities and support one another.

scholarly journals Evaluating interventions to improve child nutrition in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon Doocy ◽  
Jillian Emerson ◽  
Elizabeth Colantouni ◽  
Johnathan Strong ◽  
Kimberly Amundson-Mansen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Child Nutrition ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Women's Empowerment ◽  
Women’S Empowerment ◽  
Farmer Field Schools ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Republic Of The Congo

AbstractObjectiveThe prevention of malnutrition in children under two approach (PM2A), women’s empowerment and agricultural interventions have not been widely evaluated in relation to child diet and nutrition outcomes. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of PM2A, women’s empowerment groups (WEG), farmer field schools (FFS) and farmer-to-farmer training (F2F).DesignCommunity-matched quasi-experimental design; outcome measures included children’s dietary diversity, stunting and underweight.SettingCommunities in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.ParticipantsA total of 1312 children from 1113 households.ResultsAchievement of minimum dietary diversity ranged from 22·9 to 39·7 % and was significantly greater in the PM2A and FFS groups (P<0·05 for both comparisons). Fewer than 7·6 and 5·8 % of children in any group met minimum meal frequency and acceptable diet targets; only the PM2A group differed significantly from controls (P<0·05 for both comparisons). The endline stunting prevalence ranged from 54·7 % (PM2A) to 69·1 % (F2F) and underweight prevalence from 22·3 % (FFS) to 34·4 % (F2F). No significant differences were found between intervention groups and controls for nutrition measures; however, lower prevalences of stunting (PM2A, −4 %) and underweight (PM2A and FFS, −7 %) suggest potential impact on nutrition outcomes.ConclusionsChildren in the PM2A and FFS groups had better child diet measures and nutrition outcomes with the best results among PM2A beneficiaries. Interventions that address multiple aspects nutrition education, health, ration provision and income generation may be more effective in improving child diet and nutrition in resource-poor settings than stand-alone approaches.

scholarly journals Human Rights Protection in UN Peace Operations: A Case Study of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

2021 ◽  
pp. 2150003
Author(s):  
Masrur Mahmud Khan ◽  
Samwat Naiear Ahona ◽  
Subiggo Chakma
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Crimes Against Humanity ◽  
Peace Operations ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Human Rights Protection ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
And Gender

Despite the presence of UN peace operations for more than two decades, the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is still dire. This article illustrates the types of violations of human rights and hindrances to protect human rights in MONUSCO. Methodologically being a qualitative study, it is based on existing literature and key informant interviews. Killings of civilians, sexual and gender-based violence, child soldiers, war crimes and crimes against humanity are major types of human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The study argues that due to structural challenges, like the bureaucratic structure of MONUSCO, inadequacy of budget and juristic limitation of the Peacekeeping Force, and operational challenges, like challenges in the protection of civilians and UN personnel, the paucity of logistics and manpower and also gender-based violence by some UN personnel and peacekeepers in MONUSCO, the UN forces failed to maintain and defend human rights properly.

scholarly journals Women’s Empowerment and Children’s Complete Vaccination in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1117
Author(s):  
Xinran Lu ◽  
Chuchu Fu ◽  
Qianyun Wang ◽  
Qiwei He ◽  
Jiayi Hee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Women's Empowerment ◽  
Household Wealth ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Women’S Empowerment ◽  
Wealth Status ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Republic Of The Congo

(1) Background: The empowerment of women contributes to better child health and wellness. This study aimed to examine the association between women’s empowerment and complete vaccination of children, as recommended in the National Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). (2) Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted on data from the Multiple-Indicator Cluster Survey 6 (MICS-6) to determine the dimensions of women’s empowerment. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between women’s empowerment and complete vaccination of children stratified by household wealth. In total, 3524 women with children aged 12–23 months were included in the study. (3) Results: Women’s empowerment was defined by three dimensions, namely intrinsic agency, enabling resources, and social independence. Children of women with high levels of empowerment had higher odds of complete vaccination, with values of 1.63 (p = 0.002) and 1.59 (p = 0.012) for intrinsic agency and enabling resources of the empowerment, respectively, compared to the children of women with low levels of empowerment; however, social independence failed to be associated with the vaccination status of children. After stratification by household wealth, the OR of complete vaccination was higher in women from middle-income households with high levels of intrinsic agency (OR: 2.35, p = 0.021) compared to women from poor households with high levels of intrinsic agency (OR: 1.92, p = 0.004). (4) Conclusions: Higher levels of women’s empowerment, especially intrinsic agency and enabling resources, were associated with complete vaccination in children in the DRC. Household wealth status influenced the associations. The empowerment of women is crucial in promoting the complete vaccination of children and providing equal access to vaccines.

Assessing the management of healthcare waste for disease prevention and environment protection at selected hospitals in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

2021 ◽  
pp. 0734242X2110481
Author(s):  
Gabriel Kalombe Kyomba ◽  
Joêl Nkiama Numbi Konde ◽  
Diafuka Saila-Ngita ◽  
Thomas Kuanda Solo ◽  
Guillaume Mbela Kiyombo
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Bottom Ash ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Republic Of Congo ◽  
Healthcare Waste ◽  
Health Care Waste

Incineration is the most used healthcare waste (HCW) disposal method. Disease outbreaks due to Ebola virus and SARS-CoV2 require attention to HCW management to avoid pathogens spread and spillover. This study describes HCW management prior to incineration and hospital incinerators performance by analysing bottom ashes from hospitals in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. We used semi-structured interviews to capture information on pre-incineration waste management and analysed the chemical composition of 27 samples of incinerator bottom ashes using the energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence. Neither sorting nor waste management measures were applied at hospitals surveyed. Incinerator operators were poorly equipped and their knowledge was limited. The bottom ash concentrations of cadmium, chromium, nickel and lead ranged between 0.61–10.44, 40.15–737.01, 9.11–97.55 and 16.37–240.03 mg kg−1, respectively. Compared to Chinese incinerator performance, the concentrations of some elements were found to be lower than those from China. This discrepancy may be explained by the difference in the composition of HCW. The authors conclude that health care waste in Kinshasa hospitals is poorly managed, higher concentrations of heavy metals are found in incinerator bottom ashes and the incinerators quality is poor. They recommend the strict application of infection prevention control measures, the training of incinerator operators and the use of high-performance incinerators.

scholarly journals Operation “Artemis”: The First Autonomous EU-led Operation

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-132
Author(s):  
János Tomolya
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
European Security ◽  
Republic Of Congo ◽  
Autonomous Operation ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
Operational Constraints ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Eu

In June 2003, the EU launched Operation “Artemis”, its first military mission outside Europe and independent of NATO, to the Democratic Republic of Congo. While it ultimately received an EU badge, its origin, command and control were French. The objective of Operation “Artemis” was to contribute to the stabilisation of the security conditions in Bunia, capital of Ituri, to improve the humanitarian situation, and to ensure the protection of displaced persons in the refugee camps in Bunia. Its mandate was to provide a short-term interim force for three months until the transition to the reinforced United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC – Mission de l’Organisation des Nations Unies en République Démocratique du Congo; English: United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo). Although the EU can be said to have passed the first “test” of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) mechanisms for the conduct of an autonomous operation, this test was a limited one. Operational constraints were caused by inadequate strategic lift capabilities and the lack of a strategic reserve.

scholarly journals Situation analysis for delivering integrated comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services for displaced population of Kasaï, Democratic Republic of Congo: Protocol for a mixed method study

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0242046
Author(s):  
Jacques B. O. Emina ◽  
Parfait Gahungu ◽  
Francis Iyese ◽  
Rinelle Etinkum ◽  
Brigitte Kini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Reproductive Health Services ◽  
Republic Of Congo

Introduction Delivering integrated sexual and reproductive health services (SRHS) in emergencies is important in order to save lives of the most vulnerable as well as to combat poverty, reduce inequities and social injustice. More than 60% of preventable maternal deaths occur in conflict areas and especially among the internally displaced persons (IDP). Between 2016 and 2018, unprecedented violence erupted in the Kasaï’s region, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), called the Kamuina Nsapu Insurgency. During that period, an estimated three million of adolescent girls and women were forced to flee; and have faced growing threat to their health, safety, security, and well-being including significant sexual and reproductive health challenges. Between August 2016 and May 2017, the “Sous-Cluster sur les violences basées sur le genre (SC-VBG)” in DRC (2017) reported 1,429 Gender Based Violence (GBV) incidents in the 49 service delivery points in the provinces of Kasaï, Kasaï Central and Kasaï Oriental. Rape cases represented 79% of reported incidents whereas sexual assault and forced marriage accounted for respectively 11% and 4% of Gender Based Violence (GBV) among women and adolescent girls. This study aims to assess the availability of SRHS in the displaced camps in Kasaï; to evaluate the SRHS needs of young girls and women in the reproductive age (12–49). Studies of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have often included adolescent girls under the age of 15 because of high prevalence of child marriage and early onset of childbearing, especially in the humanitarian context. According to the 2013 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), about 16% of surveyed women got married by age 14 while the prevalence of early child marriage (marriage by 15) was estimated at 30%; to assess the use of SRHS services and identify barriers as well as challenges for SRH service delivery and use. Findings from this study will help provide evidence to inform towards more needs-based and responsive SRH service delivery. This is hoped for ultimately improve the quality and effectiveness of services, when considering service delivery and response in humanitarian settings. Data and methods We will conduct a mixed-methods study design, which will combine quantitative and qualitative approaches. Based on the estimation of the sample size, quantitative data will be drawn from the community-based survey (500 women of reproductive age per site) and health facility assessments will include assessments of 45 health facilities and 135 health providers’ interviews. Qualitative data will comprise materials from 30 Key Informant Interviews (KII) and 24 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), which are believed to achieve the needed saturation levels. Data analysis will include thematic and content analysis for the KIIs and FGDs using ATLAS.ti software for the qualitative arm. For the quantitative arm, data analysis will combine frequency and bivariate chi-square analysis, coupled with multi-level regression models, using Stata 15 software. Statistic differences will be established at the significance level of 0.05. We submitted this protocol to the national ethical committee of the ministry of health in September 2019 and it was approved in January 2020. It needs further approval from the Scientific Oversee Committee (SOC) and the Provincial Ministry of Health. Prior to data collection, informed consents will be obtained from all respondents.

scholarly journals Who is Responsible for Instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo?

2014 ◽  
pp. 29-36
Author(s):  
G. M. Sidorova
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Political Crisis ◽  
Armed Groups ◽  
Long Time ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Republic Of The Congo

The research focuses on the problem of military-political instability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo experiencing continued armed conflict for a long time. Dozens of illegal armed groups both Congolese and foreign origin continue to destabilize situation in the eastern part of the country causing humanitarian disasters. Due to governmental weakness, economic backwardness, chronical lack of finance resources, interethnic conflicts, all-round and widely spread corruption of the authorities, the Congolese government at the moment is not able to overcome scores of problems including the problem of security. Assistanceprovided to the DRC by itspartnerssuch as, first of all, the former metropolitan country Belgium, as well as the USA, Great Britain, the Europe Union and China works only in favourof these country-donors. They are attracted by rich Congolese natural resources which the DRC remaining one of the poorest countries in the world cannot turn to advantage to the full extent because of its economic backwardness. In exchange for so-calleddevelopment programmes, expensive strategic raw material (such as coltan, wolfram, casseterit, cooper, gold, niobium, and other) is being extracted and exported from the country, in addition, often on the inequivalent basis. This is taking place for the reason that numerous mines and open-cast mines are being controlled by different illegal armed groups and not by the central government. Therefore, it turns out that in the context of a military-political crisis, for so-called partners it is more beneficial to pursue their own interests. Furthermore, western ideologists arouse "separatism-oriented" theories similar to "balkanization", in other words, a breakdown of this giant country into several independent states. The Congolese are tremulous to this issue, they try to counter such approachs and defend the territorial integrity of the DRC. However, it is not an easy task. The impediment is unsettled relations with neighbouring countries - Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi which for tens of years exploit illegally natural resources of the DRC and try to lay hold of frontier Congolese territories.

Successes and Failures in Côte d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo

2019 ◽  
pp. 132-168
Author(s):  
Lisa Hultman ◽  
Jacob D. Kathman ◽  
Megan Shannon
Keyword(s):  
Cote D'ivoire ◽  
Côte D’Ivoire ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Relative Effectiveness ◽  
Cote D’Ivoire ◽  
Violence Reduction ◽  
Côte D'ivoire ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
Peacekeeping Missions

This chapter explores two conflicts and their related UN missions: Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC and MONUSCO). The chapter conducts qualitative analyses of these missions to explore the effect peacekeeping capacity and constitution on civil war violence, noting the UN’s ability to engage in mechanisms of violence reduction. The conflicts are not two cases of obvious peacekeeping success, and there are clear instances of failure in both UN efforts. However, in many situations, the missions were more effective when capacity and constitution improved, indicating that relative effectiveness increases as UN missions are sufficiently outfitted. The chapter complements the quantitative analyses by highlighting the limits of the theory and the challenges to peacekeeping missions in the midst of war.

III. Case Concerning the Arrest Warrant of April 00 (Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Belgium)

2001 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 670-675
Author(s):  
Malcolm D. Evans ◽  
Chanaka Wickremasinghe
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Foreign Minister ◽  
Crimes Against Humanity ◽  
International Crimes ◽  
National Courts ◽  
Geneva Conventions ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
Sensitive Issues

An initiating Application filed by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) against Belgium on 17 October 20001 potentially raises similar issues to those raised by the Pinochet case,2 namely the scope of “universal” jurisdiction in relation to serious international crimes against individuals (in this case “grave breaches of the 1949 Geneva Conventions and the 1977 Protocols thereto and crimes against humanity”) and the question of immunity where State officials (in this case a Foreign Minister) are accused thereof. As such it may represent an opportunity for the Court to give an authoritative ruling on these highly controversial and sensitive issues of international law, which seem to be raised with increasingly regularity before national courts. However for now such a ruling is a matter for the future, as on 8 December 2000 the Court dismissed the DRC application for provisional measures, and thus made no comment on the substantive issues of the case. Instead it found that certain intervening factual developments had removed from the application for provisional measures the requisite elements of irreparable prejudice to the rights of the applicant and urgency, thus obviating any need for an Order to be made at this stage.

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