Fatshimetrie, October 21, 2024 – The issue of sexual and gender-based violence (GBV) in the workplace is a major concern in the Democratic Republic of Congo. During a recent information and awareness day in Kinshasa, recommendations were made regarding the need to set up effective reporting mechanisms to combat these scourges.
Edouard Konan, Head of the Sexual Violence Program at the Belgian Development Agency (Enabel), stressed the importance for public administration officials to actively engage in setting up GBV reporting mechanisms. He stressed that this violence must not be tolerated and that every individual has the right to work in a safe and respectful environment.
It is crucial that the public administration be an example in terms of respect for human rights, thus guaranteeing the well-being of all its employees, men and women. The creation of reporting and awareness-raising mechanisms is essential to break the silence surrounding this violence in the workplace.
Enabel has been committed to combating sexual violence for many years, by implementing actions aimed at transforming behavior, supporting victims in a comprehensive approach and combating the impunity of attackers. The emphasis is also placed on community protection and on raising awareness among state actors about the harmful consequences of this violence.
The president of the Réseau des dames Énarques (RDE), Cora Tshi-Manina, highlighted the current state of gender-based sexual violence, while highlighting the public administration’s gender observatory responsible for combating this scourge. She informed women in the public administration of the possibility of safely reporting violence of which they may be victims via the administration’s website portal.
As part of the International Day of Non-Violence celebrated on October 2, the RDE initiated a discussion on the issue of GBV by involving ENA alumni to promote female leadership and the involvement of women in the development of the DRC.
The Réseau des dames Énarques, founded in 2019, aims to promote women’s rights in public administration and encourage their active participation in this sector, which is essential to the country’s development.
By highlighting the need to combat sexual and gender-based violence in the workplace, the Democratic Republic of Congo affirms its commitment to gender equality and the protection of all its citizens.