Kvinna till Kvinna has supported women’s rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since 2009. Women in the DRC face significant obstacles to accessing political power, economic resources, and basic services. Two out of three women are subjected to physical or sexual violence during their lifetime. Our partners work to challenge discriminatory gender norms and increase respect for women’s rights.
The DR Congo has seen over 20 years of war and violent conflict, where the root causes and dynamics of the conflict are multiple and complex. Women face challenges such as:
Kvinna till Kvinna’s partners have successfully advocated for increased participation of women in society including changed legislation in regards to women’s political and economic participation, and continues to fight to improve all rights for women.
Together with our partner organisations in Democratic Republic of the Congo, we:
In 2015, women’s rights organisations from across the DRC united in a campaign to get gender parity written into the electoral law. Today, their Rien sans les Femmes movement is respected nationwide by the authorities and is involve in many committees at national and provincial levels on all issues related to the promotion of women rights.
Sexual violence, forced recruitment of child soldiers, and mass displacement have become the new reality for women and children in the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. But despite insecurity, limited resources, and constant threats, The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation’s partner organisations remain on the ground.
14 April 2025
Amidst the prolonged armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, women’s rights organisations in South Kivu have been instrumental in supporting victims of gender-based violence and advocating for women’s rights for the past 25 years.
13 December 2023
A radio station reducing cases of violence against women. Eleven brave women paving way for women’s political participation despite challenges and threats. That is some of the committed work of Congolese women’s rights organisations that Petra Tötterman Andorff, our secretary-general, witnessed as she visited our partner organisations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
10 October 2022