The objectives of the Observatory on Domestic Violence in the DRC

The objective of establishing the National Observatory on Domestic Violence in the DRC is to create a tool to demonstrate the extent and severity of this problem to national authorities, including the legislative and judicial branches, as well as the general public. This involves the coordinated documentation of cases of domestic violence in selected geographic areas and periodic analysis and mapping of the primary data prepared.

The Observatory aims to:

• Demonstrate the severity and prevalence of domestic violence against women and girls in selected geographic areas;
• Strengthen the capacity of national and local organizations to document, analyze, and map the various recurring forms of domestic violence;
• Support the (Campaign to End Domestic Violence and Ensure Access to Services and Justice for Survivors) by providing prepared data on the phenomenon to:
• • Change the prevailing perception and discourse around domestic violence;
  • Contribute to improving the legal framework to strengthen prevention and response to domestic violence, including access to services and justice.

The methodology applied by the Observatory

The data collection necessary to document and record cases of domestic violence is obtained through a form specifically developed by SOFEPADI and MADRE. This form is designed to be used either as a stand-alone tool or as a complement to the national standard form used in the DRC to record cases of gender-based violence, but which does not allow a case to be classified as (domestic violence). This form, used by partner organizations conducting the documentation work, can be filled out through a mobile application or the web interface. The data collected are automatically transferred to the Observatory's online database. This database is the technical platform to track and analyze cases registered within the framework of the Observatory. The collected data is transferred in a secure way to protect the anonymity of the victims and the data themselves. In a second phase, cases shared by the partner organizations are examined, filtered, and validated by SOFEPADI and MADRE. Before participating in case collection, partner organizations undergo a thorough technical and organizational capacity assessment process, and intensive training on secure and ethical data collection on domestic violence.