Exploring the Effectiveness of International Organizations’ Interventions on Sexual Violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: The United Nations and MÉDecins Sans Frontieres as Examples
- 1 University of Edinburgh
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Abstract
Women’s bodies often bear the consequences of war and conflict. To safeguard women’s dignity and health, international governmental organizations, represented by the UN, and international organizations, represented by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), have tried to prevent sexual violence through reforms and development interventions in countries in conflict. However, since the end of the civil conflict in 2003, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has continued to experience high levels of sexual violence. This paper uses case studies to provide a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the causes of the high prevalence of sexual violence and the reasons for the failure of two organisations’ interventions in the country. It also provides recommendations for future interventions by international organisations in the country. In particular, more realistic measures for the protection of victims and cooperation between international actors, not only focusing on conventional international actors but also taking into account cooperation with local NGOs and the media. As well as focusing more on how to change the deep-rooted gender inequalities. The intention is to fill the gap in how to address sexual violence from the perspective of international organisations.
Keywords
Democratic Republic of the Congo, sexual violence, international development, international organizations
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Cite this article
Wei,J. (2023). Exploring the Effectiveness of International Organizations’ Interventions on Sexual Violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: The United Nations and MÉDecins Sans Frontieres as Examples. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,16,61-70.
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