FBA in the DRC

Living conditions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are among the world’s worst. The 2002 peace agreement did not put an end to the fighting between government forces and various armed groups. FBA promotes the participation of women in processes related to peace and security in the DRC, and supports efforts for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants.

The DRC has been plagued by conflict since gaining independence from the former colonial power Belgium in 1960. UN troops have been present in the DRC for over 20 years. MONUSCO is the largest UN peace operation existing today, and is mandated to enforce peace and protect civilians from violence.

Because of the ongoing fighting, the DRC is experiencing a humanitarian disaster. Out of 85 million inhabitants, over two million are internally displaced.

Within the framework of Sweden’s development cooperation with the DRC, FBA is focused on two areas:

Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants
One important part of peacebuilding in the DRC is to disarm combatants, and support their reintegration into civilian life. Communities receiving former combatants need to be prepared for this, and trust must be built between the communities and the returning ex-combatants. Structures that contribute to mobilizing individuals into armed groups also need to be transformed. FBA offers training for key actors within the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process in the DRC.

Women, peace and security
Women and girls are marginalized in processes related to peace and security in the DRC. In 2017, FBA launched a programme for inclusive peacebuilding in the country. The participants, working for both state and non-state organizations, were selected on the basis of their ability to influence the development in the war-torn eastern parts of the DRC. During 2017 and 2018 they were offered training sessions and continuous mentoring on integrating a gender perspective into their peacebuilding work. This includes, among other things, to promote the equal participation of women and men and to address the different security needs of different groups. During 2019 and 2020, FBA is focusing on the promotion of gender mainstreaming within the participant’s organizations.

Click here to read the entire strategy for Sweden’s development cooperation with the DRC 2015–2019. According to a supplementary decision by the Swedish government, the strategy has been extended to also include the year 2020.

New FBA engagement in DR Congo

Launch of FBA’s peacebuilding programme in Congo

Photo: MONUSCO

Long way to go before women are fully involved in peacebuilding

Twenty years after the UN Security Council resolution 1325 established that women have a right to participate on equal terms in every aspect of the work to prevent and manage conflicts, women’s participation in efforts for peace and security is not yet indisputable.

2020-07-03 10:34

IN THE FIELD

Kristian Edqvist

Training manager in Brussels

Linnéa Lindberg

Adviser to the UN in Myanmar

Johan Chytraeus

Monitoring officer in Ukraine

Julia Kempny

Political adviser in Somalia

Vanda Dahlbom

Analyst in Iraq

Björn Tedeman

Election observer

Karolina Riedel

Statistician in election observation missions

Read our publications

An Introduction to Human Rights and Security Sector Reform

Successful security sector reform (SSR) must be guided by the understanding of people as rights-holders and the state, including core security actors, as duty-bearers in providing security as a service to the people.

Documents

An Introduction to Human Rights and Security Sector Reform

More Publications

THE FBA BLOG

>

Posted by Randolph Rhea
The evolution of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programs – from programs to processes

>

South Sudan 2013
The prop-plane bounces through turbulence and I am awoken. I gaze out the window at the landing strip. From high above it looks busy, with many aircraft on the tarmac. When we land I realize that all of the cargo planes, troop carriers, and small aircraft are actually all destroyed and the fuselages have merely been pushed to the side of the mortar-potted runway. The wounds of war are still fresh here.

After several hours ... Read entire post »
2020-07-08 08:37
>

Posted by Anna-Linn Ekenstierna
Stories of partners and colleagues are what I bring with me

>

“Your facilitation brought us to a safe space and process where we shared our stories, really listened to each other and learned from each other.”

These are words that I bring with me as I say goodbye to partners and colleagues at the FBA this time around, heading for a new adventure.

The feedback means a lot to me since it indicates that we achieved what we had set out to do. I and my colleagues at the ... Read entire post »
2020-06-26 13:29
>

Posted by Susanna Rudehill
20 years of women, peace and security – what do we have to celebrate?

>

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325), a groundbreaking step for gender equality in international peace and security. Nine resolutions have followed and together they make up what we today call the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda.

It’s not the first international framework for women’s rights and gender equality. So why is it called groundbreaking? Because the agenda for the first time recognized inequalities between women and men ... Read entire post »
2020-06-10 10:23