In a time of ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), rape is frequently mentioned as a weapon of war, a tool strategically employed by armed groups to scatter communities...Show moreIn a time of ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), rape is frequently mentioned as a weapon of war, a tool strategically employed by armed groups to scatter communities and access natural resources. Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) is often framed as a Congolese crisis, yet the unrest in the DRC has obvious links to the exploitation of conflict minerals serving a global supply-chain. The brutality and high incidence of SGBV in the DRC is horrifying and appears not to lessen. However, in the midst of corruption, exploitation and inhumane violence, the DRC is marked by people standing up against injustice. This study addresses humanitarian peacebuilding efforts and academic discussions regarding the (in)effective response of local, national and international communities. It goes against a popular discourse depicting women as victims and will examine how women are empowered by bottom-up strategies, focusing on one Grassroots Women’s Initiative in Bukavu: The City of Joy. Two levels of analysis, program-level (organizational structure) and image-level (representation), are used to address the research question: How does City of Joy empower women in the fight against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo?Show less
Five years have passed since the attack on Sinjar, and no one could have predicted the outcome we have witnessed. With the dismantling of ISIS, a myriad of consequences built over the years has...Show moreFive years have passed since the attack on Sinjar, and no one could have predicted the outcome we have witnessed. With the dismantling of ISIS, a myriad of consequences built over the years has come crashing down to the contemporary political climate. The quell of ISIS as a land-owning non-state actor may be seen as a victory, yet, the slow process of piecing together what truly happened behind the closed veil of the so-called Caliphate is the true feat. Among all of the unknown also lies the troublesome subject of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV). It is no secret that gender based violence played a prominent part in the so-called Islamic State’s reign to power, but the question remains; Why did ISIS use sexual and gender based violence against Yezidi girls and Women? There are three hypotheses that this thesis will test to understand ISIS’ use of rape against Yezidi girls and women: a) tool of war, b) patriarchy and c) religion. By analysing the rationale behind these three hypotheses this thesis will contribute to a more systematic understanding of ISIS’ modus operandi.Show less
