Campaign to End Domestic Violence and Ensure Access to Services and Justice for Survivors

The (Campaign to End Domestic Violence and Ensure Access to Services and Justice for Survivors,) developed by MADRE and SOFEPADI, aims to obtain a clear and firm commitment from the Congolese government to address all forms of domestic violence, including marital rape. This includes ensuring effective prevention of domestic violence and guaranteeing access to protection and justice, as well as services and reparations for victims.

Through this MADRE campaign, SOFEPADI and partner organizations aim to achieve two specific goals. The first is to raise awareness among government and legislative bodies about the benefits of preventing and responding to domestic violence, using examples from countries with legal frameworks that:

• 1) Define and criminalize all forms of domestic violence of a physical, sexual, economic, and psychological nature directed against an intimate partner and/or household member, including, but not limited to, acts such as: femicide; sexual violence, including marital rape and incest; physical attacks; forced or early marriage; humiliation; isolation; restriction of access to services, resources, employment, or education; and reproductive violence ;
• 2) Provide assistance and protection to victims of domestic violence through the establishment of shelters, and counseling and rehabilitation services;
• 3) Provide for the establishment of victim-centered family support systems for households affected by domestic violence, the access to restorative justice mechanisms, and the allocation of necessary resources; and

The second goal is to support the full implementation of the Revised National Strategy to Combat Gender-Based Violence in the DRC by defining specific actions for the effective prevention and response to all forms of domestic violence, including sensitization and training of relevant police and judicial authorities as well as medical and paramedical personnel, and by allocating substantial resources for its implementation.