Lead researchers: Dr Margaret Anne Bunting, Dr Susan A. Bartels, Dr Heather Tasker and Sandrine Lusamba Mbuyi 

Partner: University of York, SOFEPADI 

Duration: February 2024 – March 2025 

Countries: Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi 

Women and girls in Africa’s Great Lakes region face ongoing vulnerability to sexual- and gender-based violence (SGBV), linked to cross-border conflicts in the area. This project focuses on the vulnerabilities of women and girls in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the urgent need for solutions. The project – a partnership between the University of York and SOFEPADI, a women and girls’ rights organisation in eastern DRC – aims to address evidence gaps in SGBV investigations. It does so by examining avenues for justice following SGBV committed by state-affiliated actors, as well as looking at human rights monitoring and international responses to SGBV and cross-border conflict. A key focus is determining whether community members can accurately identify whether perpetrators are from state-based armed groups, non-state armed groups, or state-affiliated bodies such as MONUSCO (UN stabilisation mission in DRC), EACRF (East African Community Regional Force), and Operation Shujaa (joint Uganda/DRC force against insurgents in eastern DRC). The team are also investigating how each force responds to or exacerbates violence against women and girls.  

The project will use satellite imagery, leveraging the cutting-edge capabilities of this technology and repositories of opensource data to pinpoint areas with the highest concentrations of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and cross border displacement. After study locations have been identified, the team will conduct 15-20 semi structured interviews with a broad range of women who have experienced displacement. The team will also conduct in-depth interviews with personnel from MONUSCO, EACRF, and Operation Shujaa. This key aspect of the research is designed to delve into the perspectives of international force members regarding the impact of their operations within the DRC.

This project is one of several focused on women and girls in cross-border conflict contexts. The main output will be a research manuscript for submission for publication in a peer-reviewed journal or as an XCEPT research report.  

For more information regarding this research, contact [email protected]