The report explores the current socio-economic situation of women in three villages in Ituri Province, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the degree to which interventions addressing gender-based violence have effected change on economic violence and women’s economic empowerment. The research is based on primary data from focus group discussions.
The research concludes that social norms around gender roles and responsibilities continue to have a strong hold and that interventions addressing violence are successful at an individual level when they do not challenge the roles, status and power relationships between men and women. More reflection and engagement with both men and women is needed to address the underlying causes of continuing economic hardship and gender inequality.
