Mobilising for gender equality in (post)conflict Democratic Republic of Congo: The case of the Rien Sans Les Femmes Movement

Abstract: Over the last few years, there has been a proliferation of different kinds of movements across the globe as citizens agitate for economic, socio-political and environmental change. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the country has been involved in a series of wars, attention has rather been eschewed towards the rape and sexual violence of women and girls. Using post-colonialism and social movement theories, this research aimed to contribute towards a nuanced understanding of how these Congolese women, who have been disproportionately affected by war, directly or indirectly, are exercising their agency and challenging gender inequality. The research interrogated and explored the efforts of the Rien Sans Les Femmes (RSLF) movement in response to the inequality faced by women in DRC. Through a qualitative case study approach, based on online interviews with seven female activists who are part of the Rien Sans Les Femmes movement, an ally of the movement and a representative from the partner organisations supporting the movement, the research looked at how the RSLF movement is mobilizing for gender equality in the DRC. Findings revealed that despite limited funding and backlash, activists are using their collective experience of war to push for women’s political participation in decision making positions. The research recommended that the movement should explore opportunities that contribute towards the wellness and security of activists in light of the repressive environment, and also, that more scholarly work should be done on the contribution of activists in the diaspora to the work of their home movements.