Publication: Breaking the Cycle of Intimate-partner Violence: Harm Reduction by Engaging Men in the Democratic Republic of Congo
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Date
2023-11-28
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2023-11-28
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Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global problem and a widespread issue in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where nationally more than one third of women have reported experiencing physical or sexual violence in the past year (2013-2014 DHS). The Africa Gender Innovation Lab (GIL) tested the effectiveness of the Engaging Men through Accountable Practice (EMAP) program, a male-only discussion group intervention which aimed at preventing intimate partner violence (IPV) and promoting more egalitarian gender relations. EMAP was implemented by the International Rescue Committee (IRC). New analyses of the study data paint a nuanced picture of the impact of the intervention. The authors find that among men who were the most physically violent at baseline, the EMAP program was effective at reducing the probability and severity of IPV perpetration. Although zero violence is a necessary and critical goal when promoting gender equality, these results reinforce the importance of measuring the contribution of policies and programs to reduce IPV’s occurrence, in addition to measuring effects on primary prevention and cessation of violence.
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“Gurbuz Cuneo, Alev; Falb, Kathryn; Kabeya, Rocky; Koussoubé, Estelle; Pierotti, Rachael S.; Vaillant, Julia. 2023. Breaking the Cycle of Intimate-partner Violence: Harm Reduction by Engaging Men in the Democratic Republic of Congo. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/40825 License: CC BY-NC 3.0 IGO.”
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Publication Engaging Men to Transform Gender Attitudes and Prevent Intimate-Partner Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2020-12)Over a third of women in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have experienced physical or sexual intimate-partner violence (IPV) in the past year (2013-2014 DHS). In this context, the Africa Gender Innovation Lab (GIL) in collaboration with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) tested the effectiveness of the Engaging Men through Accountable Practice (EMAP) program. EMAP is a male-only discussion group intervention aimed to prevent IPV, and to transform gender attitudes and couples’ power dynamics; all male discussion groups are informed by and accountable to women’s groups in the community. The EMAP program significantly improved the quality of the couple relationships and led to changes in men’s behaviors that are often associated with IPV, like reduced alcohol consumption. 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Contrary to expectations, the intervention increased reported IPV, with women in the treatment group experiencing significantly more physical and sexual violence. Spillover effects also emerged in non-participating couples in treatment villages. Findings suggest that male backlash against changing gender norms contributed to the rise in IPV, driven by a divergence in attitudes between men and women. The study underscores the importance of anticipating resistance in patriarchal contexts and integrating real-time monitoring into IPV prevention programs to mitigate harm and inform safer, more effective approaches.Publication The Unintended Impacts of an Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Program(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-01-22)This study evaluates the impact of an intimate partner violence prevention program in Rwanda, using a randomized controlled trial. The 22-week couples training program aimed to improve communication, shift gender attitudes, and promote gender equality. Randomizing at both the village and couple levels, the study finds that the program caused large, unexpected increases in intimate partner violence. Treated women reported 5 and 10 percentage points more physical and sexual violence than control women, respectively, and control women living in treated villages reported even larger increases of 11 and 17 percentage points. Evidence suggests that these increases stem from male backlash against perceived identity threats, as women’s more progressive attitudes and aspirations contrast with men’s pressure to maintain traditional norms, generating friction within households. Innovative measurement techniques and extensive robustness checks show that changes in reporting behavior cannot explain the results.Publication Gender Norms and Economic Empowerment Intervention to Reduce Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in Rural Côte D'ivoire : A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2014-03)Gender-based violence against women, including intimate partner violence (IPV), is a pervasive health and human rights concern. However, relatively little intervention research has been conducted on how to reduce IPV in settings impacted by conflict. The current study reports on the evaluation of the incremental impact of adding gender dialogue groups to an economic empowerment group savings program on levels of IPV. This study took place in north and northwestern rural Côte d Ivoire.
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