Title: Sexual Violence Beyond the War
Description: This thesis analyzes the issue of domestic violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo that is often overlooked due to the prevalence and coverage of war-­‐related sexual violence. This paper aims to analyze the many factors that have made domestic violence so prevalent in the African region, followed by the factors unique to post-­‐conflict DRC. Furthermore, it will be evaluating the services currently provided by local and national NGOs as well as other external actors and examine whether they address or have the potential to address issues of domestic violence. Lastly, programmatic and policy recommendations for addressing domestic violence will be drawn from an examination of best practices from current interventions. The objective is for this analysis to inform future remedies for domestic violence in the DRC that do not only treat “symptoms” but also address root causes of violence against women to ensure that interventions are strategic, targeted and that change is sustainable.