Publication: Engaging Men to Transform Gender Attitudes and Prevent Intimate-Partner Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Date
2020-12
ISSN
Published
2020-12
Author(s)
Falb, Kathryn
Hossain, Mazeda
Kabeya, Rocky
Koussoube, Estelle
Lake, Milli
Lewis, Chloe
Pierotti, Rachael S.
Roth, Danielle
Vaillant, Julia
Abstract
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.
Further, the study found that the discussion groups led to
improvements in men’s gender equitable attitudes, reducing
their support for violence against women and increasing
their support for a woman’s right to refuse to have sex.
Despite these changes on the journey to IPV prevention,
female partners of male EMAP participants reported, on
average, no change in the levels of IPV that they experienced.
Citation
“Falb, Kathryn; Hossain, Mazeda; Kabeya, Rocky; Koussoube, Estelle; Lake, Milli; Lewis, Chloe; Pierotti, Rachael S.; Roth, Danielle; Vaillant, Julia. 2020. Engaging Men to Transform Gender Attitudes and Prevent Intimate-Partner Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/35006 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”