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Congo RDC Women – victims of tradition |
WOMEN
Congolese women frequently find themselves stripped of all their rights,
especially those pertaining to inheritance
8 March 2001 was International Women’s Day and was an opportunity for Congo’s Ministry of Social Affairs and the Family, to concentrate during the whole of March on the situation of women in Congo. The theme chosen for the month was: «Women, Peace and the Right to Inherit». The United Nations mobilized the international community to consider attentively and seriously the importance of peace — especially peace in Africa where many conflicts are still taking place. Frequently, women are the first victims in any conflict situation. Congo’s Ministry of Social Affairs thought it important to include a local problem — a women’s right to inherit. In this way, the Government wanted to stress how society is stripping women of their rights, in particular their right to inherit.
The inaugural ceremony of the month dedicated to women, took place in Kinshasa’s Protestant Centenary Church. Major importance was given to the reading of national surveys dealing with: «Local customs and women’s rights in Congo RDC»; and «violence against women and girls in Congo RDC» These reports were prepared under the general supervision of a professor of sociology at the University of Kinshasa, Pierre Gambembo Garviya.
Traditional practices
According to the report on traditional practices, 75% of women in Congo RDC are not legally married. They are subject to the dictates of traditional practices and are not allowed to divorce. The report states that’s its within the family context that most violence against women takes place. In these cases, not much is done to condemn such acts because of the heavy weight of traditional practices and religion — all under the pretext of safeguarding the family’s honour and the women’s dignity. Illiteracy and the lack of available information means that women are economically dependent on men, and there’s no way out of this situation as things stand at present. The report also explains that when women are abused, there’s virtually no competent structures available to take care of them. Also, the judicial system does not seem to cater for violence against women, and these cases rarely appear in official dockets unless death occurs. Violence against women is rarely condemned because the law still discriminates against women.
The report also shows that although an effort was made in Congo RDC to achieve women’s emancipation (especially during the 1970s and the 1980s), not much was in fact done to reject constraints and fundamental oppression placed on Congolese women. Indeed, the 1987 Family Code is based to some extent on local custom and deprives women of many of their legal rights. At the same time the Code indirectly weakens the institution of marriage by adopting a more tolerant attitude towards polygamy.
The Report underlines eleven main areas in which violence of various kinds has been perpetrated against women in Congo RDC. 53% of women interviewed, especially in Eastern Kasai Province, say they’ve been victims of abusive language and suggestions; 40%, mainly in Equateur Province, admit to having been forced into prostitution; 39%, for the most part in Katanga, say they’ve been beaten and wounded; 32% complain that their dowry was never paid; 27% say they’ve suffered because of local customs; 23% declare they’ve been forced to have an abortion; 20% express dissatisfaction over their marital situation, especially regarding their inferior position in society; 17% say they’ve been forced into marriage; 16% disclose they’ve been sexually harassed; 14% complain that they’ve been raped; 8% say they’ve been refused payment of social benefits which, as women workers, they have a right to.
All this violence perpetrated against women frequently has psychological consequences such as frustration and psychosomatic diseases.
The majority of women interviewed admit that local customs cause violence. Awareness of the role played by custom varies with the level of education. Better educated women are more aware of this than those who are not well educated. Uneducated or poorly educated women are more likely to be victims of the kind of violence described above, than the well-educated. A number of women and girls underline that frequently custom is badly implemented; others say it’s not adapted to modern life and is prejudiced against women. The Report states that if nothing is done to improve women’s and girls’ cultural, socio-economic and legal situation, then violence will continue.
Injustices regarding salaries
Women’s and girls’ socio-economic situation has forced them to take up poorly paid jobs; sometimes they’re not even paid except for receiving food. In the publication, Journal du Vendredi, we conducted an enquiry on the situation of women in domestic service, and came to the conclusion that many are not much better than slaves.
A number of servants accept to do all kinds of work around the house, simply to have a place to sweep and to receive some food. From morning to late at night, these servants sweep the courtyard, clean the house, prepare hot water and breakfast for the master and his wife, look after the children and take some of them to school. They do the shopping, prepare the food, wash the dishes and clothes, iron, put the children to bed and are regularly sent on errands.
Others, for the same kind of work receive a nominal salary. Monthly salaries are very low — a mere pittance — but many employers pride themselves on paying better than the Government. One employer (a lady) says she only gives her maidservant a small salary so that the servant won’t waste her money by making herself beautiful and thus try to seduce her husband. Female domestic servants are frequently victims of sexual harassment. One of them, about thirty-years-old, told us her story: «One day, when the lady of the house was absent, I heard the master calling me from his room. I thought he might have some clothes to be washed. When I went into the room, there he was, completely naked and standing near the bed. He beckoned to me to come closer and holding out a handful of Congolese francs, he promised he would increase my salary four or five times over, if he could have his way with me. I went out shouting and he followed me into the corridor but he couldn’t catch me. So, I decided to quit there and then on the spot». A typical example of a women who doesn’t know her rights and who is in grave danger of being sexually exploited.
More education needed
Many Congolese women are beginning to free themselves from the chains of ignorance. Those in charge of institutes of higher education and the universities are noting that from year to year, more and more women are demanding education. On 17 March 2001, the College for Information and Communication held it annual graduation ceremony. The principal, Mbebolo ya Mpiku, took the opportunity to remark that in ten years, namely from 1990 to 2000, the number of female students has increased from 20% of the student body to 65%. This increase in girls’ education encourages a greater commitment of Congolese women in the struggle for their rights. But there’s still a long way to go.
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PeaceLink 2001 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement