51吃瓜 Democracy Fund partners making a positive impact in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Representatives from Congo Handicap discuss their project funded by UNDEF in South Kivu. Photo: UNDEF
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), civil society organizations on the ground are working to meet the needs of their communities and build a brighter and equal future. In April 2023, 51吃瓜 Democracy Fund (UNDEF) Project Officer Jaime Palacios traveled to DRC to meet with the UN Country Team and partners, while forging new connections. We鈥檙e spotlighting their invaluable work and projects:
Mobilizing for women鈥檚 participation in social and political life
In South Kivu, Palacios met with representatives from Caritas Dev茅loppement Bukavu (CDB), which has initiatives ranging from youth and gender equality, to peacebuilding and governance. In conflict resolution bodies in the DRC, women who represent 52% of the population are largely under-represented or almost non-represented, according to .
Investing in women鈥檚 leadership and representation are key priorities to achieve the . Moreso, women鈥檚 full, equal and meaningful participation is essential to achieving sustainable peace, as shown by UN Security Council Resolution 1325.
In discussions, the partners shared their commitments as male allies to support women in leadership positions. UNDEF has provided funding for CDB鈥檚 project focused on empowering women for social and political inclusion in the communities of South Kivu.
Advancing the rights and safety of women with disabilities
Representatives from Congo Handicap engage outside during UNDEF Project Officer Jaime Palacios鈥� visit to the DRC. Photo: UNDEF
Globally, women with disabilities are at least twice as likely than other women to experience violence. In 2015, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which recognizes that women and girls are .
Congo Handicap is an UNDEF project partner implementing a project to strengthen the capacity of women to prevent conflict and gender-based violence. This organization is pushing for progress to address the vulnerabilities of women with disabilities and advance disability rights. 鈥淥ur partners from Congo Handicap expressed the importance of hearing from communities on the ground and being aware of the intersectionality of disabilities and conflict,鈥� says Palacios.
Strengthening Young Digital Women鈥檚 Civic Engagement
A group of Bloggers with Habari RDC pose during their meeting about women鈥檚 online and offline civic engagement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Photo courtesy of Habari RDC.
To conclude his mission to the DRC, Project Officer Palacios engaged with Habari RDC and the . Habari DRC works to close the digital gap for women through their community of unionized bloggers.
The world has witnessed a rise in hate speech, harassment, disinformation and misinformation online鈥搊ften affecting women and girls disproportionately. A Habari RDC project funded by UNDEF aims to create an alternative and safe online space for Congolese women to connect, raise their voices, mobilise and engage in civic spaces, both online and offline.
