Fighting discrimination based on gender: a major step forward in the DRC
In the fight against discrimination based on gender, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo recently signed a law penalizing forced levirate and sororate. This decision marks a significant step forward in the promotion of gender equality and the protection of women’s rights in the country.
Forced levirate and sororate are traditional practices where a widow is forced to marry the younger brother of her late husband, or where a widower is forced to marry the younger sister of his late wife. These practices, although deeply rooted in custom, have harmful consequences on the lives and well-being of the women concerned.
In a recent article in the Desk Femme of Actualités.cd, women in Kinshasa were asked about their opinion regarding this law. Reactions are varied, but the majority of women strongly support the banning of these practices.
Raïssa Kazadi, a married woman, believes that this ban is justified. According to her, a woman should be free to start a new life with the person of her choice after the death of her husband. Coercive practices must be abolished in our society, she says.
Antho Mbalabu, a student at the University of Kinshasa, emphasizes that marriage is a personal choice based on love, not predefined customs. She therefore believes that all these practices must be severely punished, because they cause numerous disorders in our societies.
Jedidia Nduaya, a mother and employee at a subcontracting company, also supports this law, saying that any form of marital obligation must be banned. According to her, women should never be forced to enter into a relationship with anyone, and adherence to these practices should be completely voluntary.
Dr. Florence Kapila, dentist at the University Clinics of Kinshasa, adds that these practices go against fraternity and the construction of a healthy relationship within the family. Remarrying the deceased’s wife to her husband’s younger brother is an uncomfortable and inappropriate situation, she says.
However, not all opinions point in the same direction. Linda Kazadi, a law graduate, believes that custom, as a source of law, must be respected and applied. She argues that tradition dictates that boys have the responsibility to guide girls, and that these practices must therefore be maintained and even expanded.
The ordinance-law, signed on September 11, 2013, modifies and supplements the Congolese Penal Code by introducing articles 174, paragraphs R, S and T, which condemn forced levirate and sororate.
This decision marks an important step in promoting gender equality in the DRC. By criminalizing these coercive practices, the government is sending a clear message: women’s rights must be protected and respected. However, there is still a lot of work to be done to change mentalities and evolve social norms.
Achieving gender equality is a complex process that requires collective and ongoing action by society as a whole. Hopefully this law will serve as a starting point for future progress in the fight against gender-based discrimination in the DRC.