News and media

Very active in the African Great Lakes region, CECI just signed a partnership agreement with the COCAFEM/GL (Collective of coalitions of associations working for the advancement of women in the Great Lakes region). This agreement makes official their common will to fight violence against women in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda.

Suzanne Dumouchel, project officer for CECI, is deeply involved in the Project to fight violence against women and girls in the Great Lakes region (PLUVIF). Back from the region, she answers some of our questions.

In a few words, could you tell us about the women’s situation in the Great Lakes region and the violence they experience there?

During the last few years, the Great Lake region was scarred by bloody conflicts that left millions dead. The women of Burundi, DRC and Rwanda were particularly affected by the consequences of war and insecurity: many of them suffered from sexual violence, relocation and mourning. Those who live alone are very vulnerable to abuse and violence. All of this has devastating consequences for the families and the community in general, and it contributes to their poverty. Peace efforts have made progress in the region, but the extent of violence against women during wartime has reinforced the phenomenon’s trivialization.

What is the Project to fight violence against women and girls in the Great Lakes region (PLUVIF)?

This project supports the Collective of coalitions of associations working for the advancement of women in the Great Lakes region (COCAFEM/GL) in generating discussions on politics and producing communication-documentation on cases of violence against women and girls in the region. Furthermore, the project supports initiatives carried out in areas identified by the member organizations of the COCAFEM/GL. These initiatives aim to improve the services offered to women and girls victims of violence and to change attitudes and behaviours toward them from rejection to empathy.

Who are precisely the program’s beneficiaries? Women who are victims of violence?

The beneficiaries are first of all the women and girls victims of violence in the three countries’ chosen areas; then more widely the women and girls of the region in general, through prevention and better law enforcement. The project will also work to strengthen the COCAFEM/GL’s  capacities to analyse and to act, which will make the Collective better known as an ally in the fight against violence.

Could you tell us more about the history of the COCAFEM/GL and its role in fighting violence against women?

The COCAFEM/GL was formed in 2001, during a period of tensions in the region, on the idea that, during wartimes and the return to peace, women are victims of violence. The Collective was first formed of four coalitions of women organizations of Burundi, DCR and Rwanda; then, it expanded to 11 coalitions that include 601 organizations and 1,790 grassroots organizations or women’s groups. The original idea, which still drives the COCAFEM/GL, was to create solidarity between the women of the three countries so as to promote peace, tolerance, non-violence and respect of women’s and people’s rights.

What role does CECI play in this project?

In addition to managing the project, CECI supports the COCAFEM/GL in analyzing the context, developing strategies, monitoring the implementation of initiatives, etc. This is a practical and concrete way of strengthening the Collective’s abilities.

For many years now, you’ve been interested in women’s rights issues. Have you noticed tangible progress in this area in the African Great Lakes region?

In the fight against violence, I would say that there has been progress in terms of institutional framework. Laws and strategies to suppress violence were passed in the countries. The Pact on Security, Stability, and Development in the Great Lakes Region, signed by the heads of state in December 2006, includes the Protocol on the Prevention and Suppression of Sexual Violence Against Women and Children. The considerable challenge is now to use these tools to bring about change. The COCAFEM/GL intends to work on that within the PLUVIF. Furthermore, I’d say that many women’s organizations have developed an expertise in counselling the victims. Recently, men’s groups have also been formed to help in the fight against violence. Finally, I’ve noticed that this issue is now better known: awareness has spread outside of the region’s borders.

The PLUVIF at a glance:

Countries: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda

Beneficiaries: women and girls victims of violence in these three countries, women and girls in general.

Partners: the Collective of coalitions of associations working for the advancement of women in the Great Lakes region (COCAFEM/GL), formed of 11 national coalitions from the three countries.

Budget: $13,150,042, of which $12,900,042 were financed by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

Duration: July 2010 to March 2017.

Suzanne Dumouchel holds a master’s degree in social services, on a subject relating to violence against women. As an employee of CECI for 25 years, she has managed many projects in Africa. They were about human rights issues, democratic development and women’s rights.