Women have an essential role to play in the consolidation of peace in the DR Congo electoral process.

However, several obstacles make the participation of women in the electoral process more difficult than for men. These obstacles are: cultural factors; practical obstacles such as family responsibilities, the fear of facing men in the elections, physical safety, poverty, and a high level of ignorance.

Potential female voters, candidates and observers, also have right to important positions. For this reason, the integration of the gender concept in the electoral process should not be reduced to the simple sensitizing of the women as voters because of their great representation, but it must also integrate this concept in order to ensure the participation of both women and men in the electoral process.

MONUC’s role
MONUC through its Electoral division, coordinates the electoral assistance to the IEC (Independent Electoral Commission), in the name of all the systems of the United Nations, with a particular focus to ensure the full participation of Congolese women in the electoral process. The taking into account of the gender dimension in the electoral process is one of the priorities of the MONUC gender office.

The office organizes periodic consultations sessions with civil society organizations and related MONUC divisions. It disseminates information relating to the development of laws which will constitute the legal framework of the electoral process before their adoption.

At the initial consultation initiated by Gender office, in collaboration with the electoral Division, on the topic “Gender and Elections” in October 2004, intensive work was undertaken to make sure that the legal framework of the elections is favourable to the participation of woman.

The Office meets each week with representatives of the UNIFEM, PNUD/APEC, IEC, and with other partners who work on the elections to monitor the electoral process. MONUC, in collaboration with all our partners, ensures the integration of the gender dimension in the electoral laws before these are formulated.

Thus, the law relating to the identification and enrolment of the voters took into account the Gender aspect and the Constitution ensured that Congolese women can take part fully as a citizen in the elections like very other person.

Women in the constitution

The transition government in the DRC expressed the engagement to put this issue at the heart of national concern. The Constitution of the Transition, adopted on April 5, 2003 stipulates in article 51:

The State has the duty to eliminate all forms of discrimination with regard to women and to ensure the respect of the promotion of women’s rights.

The State has the obligation to take all suitable measures to ensure the full participation of women in the development of the nation, in all fields, in particular economic, social and cultural domains.

The State takes measures to fight against all forms of violence against women in both public and private life. Women have a right to significant representation within the national, provincial and local institutions. The constitution of the Third Republic stipulates in its articles 14 and 15:

Article 14

“Authorities must eliminate any form of discrimination with regard to women, and to ensure the protection and the promotion of their rights.
This covers all fields, in particular in the civil, political, economic, social and cultural, and all suitable measures must be taken to ensure the total and full participation of women in the development of the nation. This includes measures against any form of violence to women in both public and private life.

Women have the right to equitable representation within the national, provincial and local institutions. The State guarantees the implementation of the man-woman equality in the aforementioned institutions, and the law lays down the methods of application of these rights.”

Article 15

“The authorities must ensure the elimination of armed violence which destabilizes or disrupts the family. Without prejudicing international treaties and agreements, any sexual violence made on any person, with the intention to destabilize or disrupt a family, or to eliminate a particular people is a crime against humanity, and is punishable by law.”