{"id":2288,"date":"2026-03-30T10:35:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T10:35:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/?p=2288"},"modified":"2026-04-03T09:18:48","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T09:18:48","slug":"womens-access-to-justice-in-the-drc-a-persistent-gap-between-law-and-reality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/fr\/womens-access-to-justice-in-the-drc-a-persistent-gap-between-law-and-reality\/","title":{"rendered":"Acc\u00e8s \u00e0 la justice des femmes en RDC : un foss\u00e9 persistant entre les textes et la r\u00e9alit\u00e9"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Cette tribune a \u00e9t\u00e9 initialement publi\u00e9e sur actualite.cd<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Le mois de mars consacr\u00e9 aux droits des femmes touche \u00e0 sa fin. Comme chaque ann\u00e9e, les c\u00e9l\u00e9brations se sont multipli\u00e9es : pagnes du 8 mars distribu\u00e9s par milliers, \u00e9v\u00e9nements organis\u00e9s en cascade, hommages r\u00e9p\u00e9t\u00e9s.<\/p>

Mais \u00e0 force de ritualiser ces moments, nous en oublions leur sens. Le 8 mars n\u2019a jamais \u00e9t\u00e9 con\u00e7u comme un moment de c\u00e9l\u00e9bration, mais comme un temps de r\u00e9flexion sur les luttes pass\u00e9es, mais surtout sur le chemin qu\u2019il reste \u00e0 parcourir pour atteindre une \u00e9galit\u00e9 r\u00e9elle.<\/p>

Car malgr\u00e9 les avanc\u00e9es normatives, la r\u00e9alit\u00e9 demeure : \u00e0 chaque \u00e9tape de leur vie, les femmes continuent d\u2019\u00eatre confront\u00e9es \u00e0 des violences et des injustices qui limitent leur capacit\u00e9 \u00e0 exercer pleinement leurs droits et \u00e0 construire leur avenir.<\/p>

La r\u00e9cente vid\u00e9o montrant un m\u00e9decin agressant une jeune femme en situation de grande vuln\u00e9rabilit\u00e9, juste apr\u00e8s son accouchement, a suscit\u00e9 une vive \u00e9motion. Mais au-del\u00e0 du choc, elle met en lumi\u00e8re une v\u00e9rit\u00e9 bien plus profonde : ces violences ne sont pas des incidents isol\u00e9s. Elles s\u2019inscrivent dans des dynamiques syst\u00e9miques, ancr\u00e9es dans nos structures sociales et institutionnelles.<\/p>

S\u2019il est un groupe de femmes qui en subit la forme la plus brutale, ce sont celles en situation de d\u00e9tention, longtemps ignor\u00e9es dans les d\u00e9bats internationaux sur l\u2019\u00e9galit\u00e9 des genres.<\/p>

C\u2019est dans ce contexte que la 70\u1d49 session de la Commission de la condition de la femme (CSW70), tenue \u00e0 New York du 9 au 19 mars 2026, marque une avanc\u00e9e historique. Pour la premi\u00e8re fois en 70 ans d\u2019existence, ses conclusions mentionnent les femmes en d\u00e9tention et reconnaissent l\u2019am\u00e9lioration de leur condition comme un enjeu \u00e0 part enti\u00e8re de l\u2019agenda international des droits des femmes.<\/strong><\/p>

Une reconnaissance d\u2019autant plus importante que le nombre de femmes incarc\u00e9r\u00e9es dans le monde augmente plus rapidement que celui des hommes et approche aujourd\u2019hui le million.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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L\u2019acc\u00e8s \u00e0 la justice des femmes congolaises : une r\u00e9alit\u00e9 contrast\u00e9e<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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En R\u00e9publique d\u00e9mocratique du Congo, ce d\u00e9calage entre les normes et la r\u00e9alit\u00e9 est particuli\u00e8rement visible. Depuis 2023, notre organisation, Ius Stella, m\u00e8ne des consultations juridiques gratuites aupr\u00e8s des femmes incarc\u00e9r\u00e9es \u00e0 la prison centrale de Makala (Kinshasa) et \u00e0 la prison de Kangbayi (Beni), nous permettant de documenter des dynamiques pr\u00e9occupantes encore largement absentes des d\u00e9bats publics.<\/p>\n

De nombreuses femmes sont incarc\u00e9r\u00e9es pour des d\u00e9lits mineurs ou sur la base de qualifications erron\u00e9es. Certaines se retrouvent poursuivies pour abus de confiance faute de pouvoir rembourser un pr\u00eat, parfois inf\u00e9rieur \u00e0 50 dollars.<\/p>\n

\u00c0 ces situations s\u2019ajoutent des conflits li\u00e9s aux droits de propri\u00e9t\u00e9 : veuves ou agricultrices peuvent \u00eatre incarc\u00e9r\u00e9es \u00e0 la suite de litiges fonciers ou familiaux, r\u00e9v\u00e9lant la fragilit\u00e9 persistante de leurs droits \u00e9conomiques.<\/p>\n

Plus pr\u00e9occupant encore, certaines femmes sont poursuivies en lieu et place de leur agresseur. Ainsi, une m\u00e8re fuyant des violences domestiques avec ses enfants a \u00e9t\u00e9 arr\u00eat\u00e9e pour enl\u00e8vement, \u00e0 la demande de son mari.<\/p>\n

\u00c0 Beni, plac\u00e9 sous \u00e9tat de si\u00e8ge, des femmes ont \u00e9galement \u00e9t\u00e9 arr\u00eat\u00e9es en lieu et place de leur mari accus\u00e9 de collaborer avec des groupes arm\u00e9s, dans l\u2019espoir de les contraindre \u00e0 se rendre.<\/p>\n

Ces situations ne rel\u00e8vent pas de simples dysfonctionnements du syst\u00e8me judiciaire. Elles refl\u00e8tent des normes sociales profond\u00e9ment ancr\u00e9es, o\u00f9 les femmes ne sont pas pleinement reconnues comme des citoyennes \u00e0 part enti\u00e8re, titulaires des m\u00eames droits que les hommes.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Des cons\u00e9quences qui d\u00e9passent les trajectoires individuelles<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Ces injustices produisent des effets durables sur l\u2019ensemble de la soci\u00e9t\u00e9. Lorsqu\u2019une femme est incarc\u00e9r\u00e9e, c\u2019est toute la structure familiale qui est fragilis\u00e9e. Les enfants se retrouvent sans soutien, expos\u00e9s \u00e0 des risques accrus de d\u00e9scolarisation, de pr\u00e9carit\u00e9 ou de marginalisation.<\/p>

\u00c0 Beni, nos consultations ont montr\u00e9 que la majorit\u00e9 des femmes d\u00e9tenues \u00e9taient des m\u00e8res seules. Parmi 77 femmes consult\u00e9es, 245 enfants d\u00e9pendaient d\u2019elles, dont certains de moins de cinq ans vivant en prison \u00e0 leurs c\u00f4t\u00e9s.<\/p>

En raison de la stigmatisation, ces impacts ne disparaissent pas \u00e0 la sortie de prison et affectant durablement les trajectoires des femmes concern\u00e9es, mais aussi de leurs enfants et de leur entourage.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Renforcer l\u2019efficacit\u00e9 des r\u00e9formes de justice<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Le d\u00e9fi pour les autorit\u00e9s aujourd\u2019hui est de concevoir des m\u00e9canismes judiciaires capables de r\u00e9pondre aux r\u00e9alit\u00e9s v\u00e9cues par les femmes en mati\u00e8re d\u2019acc\u00e8s \u00e0 la justice.<\/p>

Trois axes d\u2019action apparaissent prioritaires.<\/p>

Le premier est celui de la connaissance.<\/strong>Sans donn\u00e9es solides sur les besoins juridiques r\u00e9els des femmes, les politiques publiques restent d\u00e9connect\u00e9es des situations v\u00e9cues. Cela implique de documenter les obstacles rencontr\u00e9s et les formes sp\u00e9cifiques de vuln\u00e9rabilit\u00e9 juridique qui les affectent. Un travail que nous avons commenc\u00e9 avec Ius Stella en r\u00e9alisant une \u00e9tude exploratoire<\/a> lors de la derni\u00e8re campagne des 16 jours d'activisme, en collaboration avec les \u00e9tudiants du Club des droits de l'homme de l'Universit\u00e9 de Kinshasa. Ce travail gagnerait \u00e0 \u00eatre \u00e9tendu et syst\u00e9matis\u00e9.<\/p>

Le deuxi\u00e8me est celui de l'accessibilit\u00e9<\/strong>. Dans de nombreux cas, c'est l'absence d'information et de recours qui constitue le principal obstacle \u00e0 la justice. Des dispositifs d'aide juridique de proximit\u00e9, adapt\u00e9s aux contraintes \u00e9conomiques et sociales des femmes, permettraient d'y rem\u00e9dier.<\/p>

Le troisi\u00e8me est celui de la sanction<\/strong>. Le recours abusif \u00e0 l'incarc\u00e9ration pour des infractions non violentes produit des effets sociaux et \u00e9conomiques d\u00e9l\u00e9t\u00e8res sur les familles et la soci\u00e9t\u00e9. Des peines alternatives, en particulier pour les femmes ayant des enfants \u00e0 charge, permettraient d\u2019en limiter les cons\u00e9quences sans affaiblir la fonction protectrice du droit.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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La justice comme levier de transformation<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Ces d\u00e9fis ne sont ni propres \u00e0 la RDC, ni au continent africain. Ils traduisent un enjeu global : transformer des engagements juridiques en changements r\u00e9els dans la vie des femmes.<\/p>

Dans ce contexte, la RDC peut montrer la voie, en adoptant des r\u00e9formes fond\u00e9es sur les donn\u00e9es, adapt\u00e9es aux besoins r\u00e9els et centr\u00e9es sur les personnes.<\/p>

Car l\u2019acc\u00e8s \u00e0 la justice ne rel\u00e8ve pas seulement de la protection des droits : il constitue un levier d\u00e9terminant de transformation et de progr\u00e8s, pour les femmes comme pour les soci\u00e9t\u00e9s dans lesquelles elles vivent.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Jessica, Fondatrice de Ius Stella<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRejoignez-nous<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This op-ed was originally published in French on actualite.cd. As March, the month dedicated to women\u2019s rights, comes to an end, the usual wave of celebrations has once again unfolded: commemorative fabrics distributed by the thousands, events organized back-to-back, and countless tributes paid to women. Yet, in ritualizing these moments, we risk losing sight of their purpose. March 8 was never meant to be a celebration, but a moment for reflection on past struggles, and more importantly, on the distance still to be covered to achieve genuine equality. Because despite significant legal and policy advances, the reality remains unchanged: at every stage of their lives, women continue to face forms of violence and injustice that limit their ability to fully exercise their rights and shape their futures. A recent video showing a doctor violently assaulting a woman moments after childbirth sparked widespread outrage. But beyond the shock, it reveals a deeper truth: such violence is not incidental. It reflects systemic patterns, embedded within social norms and institutional structures. If there is one group of women who bear the most severe consequences of these institutionalized forms of violence, it is women in detention, long overlooked in global conversations on gender equality. It is in this context that the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), held in New York from March 9 to 19, 2026, marks a significant milestone. For the first time in its 70-year history, the Commission\u2019s agreed conclusions explicitly recognize women in detention and frame their situation as a core issue within the global women\u2019s rights agenda. This recognition is all the more critical as the number of incarcerated women worldwide continues to rise faster than that of men, approaching one million. A Stark Reality for Women in the DRC In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the gap between legal frameworks and lived realities is particularly evident. Since 2023, Ius Stella has been providing free legal consultations to women detained in Makala prison in Kinshasa and Kangbayi prison in Beni, shedding light on patterns that remain largely absent from public debate. Many women are imprisoned for minor offenses or based on flawed legal classifications. Some face charges of breach of trust simply because they are unable to repay small loans, sometimes as little as $50. Others become entangled in property disputes: widows and women farmers may be imprisoned following land or family conflicts, highlighting the persistent fragility of women\u2019s economic rights. More concerning still are cases where women are prosecuted in place of their abusers. A mother fleeing domestic violence with her children may be arrested for kidnapping at the request of her husband. In Beni, under a state of siege, women have also been detained in place of husbands accused of collaborating with armed groups, in an effort to force them to surrender. These are not isolated failures of the justice system. They reflect deeply rooted social norms in which women are not fully recognized as rights-bearing citizens equal to men. Consequences Beyond Individual Life Trajectories These injustices extend far beyond individual cases and have lasting consequences for society as a whole. When a woman is incarcerated, entire family structures are destabilized. Children are left without support, facing increased risks of dropping out of school, poverty, and social exclusion. In Beni, our legal consultations revealed that most detained women were single mothers. Among 77 women assisted, 245 children depended on them, some under the age of five, living in prison alongside their mothers. Due to stigma and social disruption, these impacts do not end with release. They continue to shape the life trajectories of these women, their children, and their communities. Making Justice Systems Work for Everyone The challenge for public authorities today is to design judicial mechanisms that effectively respond to the realities women face in accessing justice. Three priorities areas stand out. First, improving knowledge. Without reliable data on women\u2019s legal needs, public policies remain disconnected from lived realities. This requires systematically documenting the barriers women face and the specific vulnerabilities that affect them. Ius Stella has begun this work through an exploratory study conducted during the 16 Days of Activism campaign, in collaboration with students from the Human Rights Club at the University of Kinshasa. But much more needs to be done. Second, improving accessibility. In many cases, the primary barrier to justice is not the absence of rights, but the lack of information and accessible recourse. Community-based legal aid systems, tailored to women\u2019s economic and social realities, are essential. Third, rethinking the use of incarceration. The overuse of detention for non-violent offenses carries severe social and economic consequences. Expanding alternatives to imprisonment, particularly for mothers, can mitigate these harms without compromising the protective function of the law. Justice as a Lever for Change These challenges are not unique to the DRC or to Africa. They reflect a global issue: turning legal commitments into meaningful change in women\u2019s lives. In this context, the DRC has an opportunity to lead by example, by adopting data-driven, people-centered reforms grounded in lived realities. Because access to justice is not only about protecting rights. It is a critical driver of transformation and progress for women, and for the societies they live in. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Jessica, Founder of Ius Stella Join us today<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2298,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2288","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"yoast_head":"\nWomen\u2019s Access to Justice in the DRC: A Persistent Gap Between Law and Reality - Ius Stella<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/fr\/womens-access-to-justice-in-the-drc-a-persistent-gap-between-law-and-reality\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"fr_FR\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Women\u2019s Access to Justice in the DRC: A Persistent Gap Between Law and Reality - Ius Stella\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This op-ed was originally published in French on actualite.cd. As March, the month dedicated to women\u2019s rights, comes to an end, the usual wave of celebrations has once again unfolded: commemorative fabrics distributed by the thousands, events organized back-to-back, and countless tributes paid to women. Yet, in ritualizing these moments, we risk losing sight of their purpose. March 8 was never meant to be a celebration, but a moment for reflection on past struggles, and more importantly, on the distance still to be covered to achieve genuine equality. Because despite significant legal and policy advances, the reality remains unchanged: at every stage of their lives, women continue to face forms of violence and injustice that limit their ability to fully exercise their rights and shape their futures. A recent video showing a doctor violently assaulting a woman moments after childbirth sparked widespread outrage. But beyond the shock, it reveals a deeper truth: such violence is not incidental. It reflects systemic patterns, embedded within social norms and institutional structures. If there is one group of women who bear the most severe consequences of these institutionalized forms of violence, it is women in detention, long overlooked in global conversations on gender equality. It is in this context that the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), held in New York from March 9 to 19, 2026, marks a significant milestone. For the first time in its 70-year history, the Commission\u2019s agreed conclusions explicitly recognize women in detention and frame their situation as a core issue within the global women\u2019s rights agenda. This recognition is all the more critical as the number of incarcerated women worldwide continues to rise faster than that of men, approaching one million. A Stark Reality for Women in the DRC In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the gap between legal frameworks and lived realities is particularly evident. Since 2023, Ius Stella has been providing free legal consultations to women detained in Makala prison in Kinshasa and Kangbayi prison in Beni, shedding light on patterns that remain largely absent from public debate. Many women are imprisoned for minor offenses or based on flawed legal classifications. Some face charges of breach of trust simply because they are unable to repay small loans, sometimes as little as $50. Others become entangled in property disputes: widows and women farmers may be imprisoned following land or family conflicts, highlighting the persistent fragility of women\u2019s economic rights. More concerning still are cases where women are prosecuted in place of their abusers. A mother fleeing domestic violence with her children may be arrested for kidnapping at the request of her husband. In Beni, under a state of siege, women have also been detained in place of husbands accused of collaborating with armed groups, in an effort to force them to surrender. These are not isolated failures of the justice system. They reflect deeply rooted social norms in which women are not fully recognized as rights-bearing citizens equal to men. Consequences Beyond Individual Life Trajectories These injustices extend far beyond individual cases and have lasting consequences for society as a whole. When a woman is incarcerated, entire family structures are destabilized. Children are left without support, facing increased risks of dropping out of school, poverty, and social exclusion. In Beni, our legal consultations revealed that most detained women were single mothers. Among 77 women assisted, 245 children depended on them, some under the age of five, living in prison alongside their mothers. Due to stigma and social disruption, these impacts do not end with release. They continue to shape the life trajectories of these women, their children, and their communities. Making Justice Systems Work for Everyone The challenge for public authorities today is to design judicial mechanisms that effectively respond to the realities women face in accessing justice. Three priorities areas stand out. First, improving knowledge. Without reliable data on women\u2019s legal needs, public policies remain disconnected from lived realities. This requires systematically documenting the barriers women face and the specific vulnerabilities that affect them. Ius Stella has begun this work through an exploratory study conducted during the 16 Days of Activism campaign, in collaboration with students from the Human Rights Club at the University of Kinshasa. But much more needs to be done. Second, improving accessibility. In many cases, the primary barrier to justice is not the absence of rights, but the lack of information and accessible recourse. Community-based legal aid systems, tailored to women\u2019s economic and social realities, are essential. Third, rethinking the use of incarceration. The overuse of detention for non-violent offenses carries severe social and economic consequences. Expanding alternatives to imprisonment, particularly for mothers, can mitigate these harms without compromising the protective function of the law. Justice as a Lever for Change These challenges are not unique to the DRC or to Africa. They reflect a global issue: turning legal commitments into meaningful change in women\u2019s lives. In this context, the DRC has an opportunity to lead by example, by adopting data-driven, people-centered reforms grounded in lived realities. Because access to justice is not only about protecting rights. It is a critical driver of transformation and progress for women, and for the societies they live in. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Jessica, Founder of Ius Stella Join us today\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/fr\/womens-access-to-justice-in-the-drc-a-persistent-gap-between-law-and-reality\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Ius Stella\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/IusStella\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-03-30T10:35:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-03T09:18:48+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Blog-Banners-1800x810-1.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"416\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"312\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jessica\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"\u00c9crit par\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jessica\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Dur\u00e9e de lecture estim\u00e9e\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/womens-access-to-justice-in-the-drc-a-persistent-gap-between-law-and-reality\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/womens-access-to-justice-in-the-drc-a-persistent-gap-between-law-and-reality\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Jessica\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/#\/schema\/person\/4f7eb1a015a8a1c06f773739fd2320eb\"},\"headline\":\"Women\u2019s Access to Justice in the DRC: A Persistent Gap Between Law and Reality\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-30T10:35:07+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-03T09:18:48+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/womens-access-to-justice-in-the-drc-a-persistent-gap-between-law-and-reality\/\"},\"wordCount\":890,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/womens-access-to-justice-in-the-drc-a-persistent-gap-between-law-and-reality\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Blog-Banners-1800x810-1.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Blog\"],\"inLanguage\":\"fr-FR\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/womens-access-to-justice-in-the-drc-a-persistent-gap-between-law-and-reality\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/womens-access-to-justice-in-the-drc-a-persistent-gap-between-law-and-reality\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/womens-access-to-justice-in-the-drc-a-persistent-gap-between-law-and-reality\/\",\"name\":\"Women\u2019s Access to Justice in the DRC: A Persistent Gap Between Law and Reality - 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Ius Stella","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/fr\/womens-access-to-justice-in-the-drc-a-persistent-gap-between-law-and-reality\/","og_locale":"fr_FR","og_type":"article","og_title":"Women\u2019s Access to Justice in the DRC: A Persistent Gap Between Law and Reality - Ius Stella","og_description":"This op-ed was originally published in French on actualite.cd. As March, the month dedicated to women\u2019s rights, comes to an end, the usual wave of celebrations has once again unfolded: commemorative fabrics distributed by the thousands, events organized back-to-back, and countless tributes paid to women. Yet, in ritualizing these moments, we risk losing sight of their purpose. March 8 was never meant to be a celebration, but a moment for reflection on past struggles, and more importantly, on the distance still to be covered to achieve genuine equality. Because despite significant legal and policy advances, the reality remains unchanged: at every stage of their lives, women continue to face forms of violence and injustice that limit their ability to fully exercise their rights and shape their futures. A recent video showing a doctor violently assaulting a woman moments after childbirth sparked widespread outrage. But beyond the shock, it reveals a deeper truth: such violence is not incidental. It reflects systemic patterns, embedded within social norms and institutional structures. If there is one group of women who bear the most severe consequences of these institutionalized forms of violence, it is women in detention, long overlooked in global conversations on gender equality. It is in this context that the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), held in New York from March 9 to 19, 2026, marks a significant milestone. For the first time in its 70-year history, the Commission\u2019s agreed conclusions explicitly recognize women in detention and frame their situation as a core issue within the global women\u2019s rights agenda. This recognition is all the more critical as the number of incarcerated women worldwide continues to rise faster than that of men, approaching one million. A Stark Reality for Women in the DRC In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the gap between legal frameworks and lived realities is particularly evident. Since 2023, Ius Stella has been providing free legal consultations to women detained in Makala prison in Kinshasa and Kangbayi prison in Beni, shedding light on patterns that remain largely absent from public debate. Many women are imprisoned for minor offenses or based on flawed legal classifications. Some face charges of breach of trust simply because they are unable to repay small loans, sometimes as little as $50. Others become entangled in property disputes: widows and women farmers may be imprisoned following land or family conflicts, highlighting the persistent fragility of women\u2019s economic rights. More concerning still are cases where women are prosecuted in place of their abusers. A mother fleeing domestic violence with her children may be arrested for kidnapping at the request of her husband. In Beni, under a state of siege, women have also been detained in place of husbands accused of collaborating with armed groups, in an effort to force them to surrender. These are not isolated failures of the justice system. They reflect deeply rooted social norms in which women are not fully recognized as rights-bearing citizens equal to men. Consequences Beyond Individual Life Trajectories These injustices extend far beyond individual cases and have lasting consequences for society as a whole. When a woman is incarcerated, entire family structures are destabilized. Children are left without support, facing increased risks of dropping out of school, poverty, and social exclusion. In Beni, our legal consultations revealed that most detained women were single mothers. Among 77 women assisted, 245 children depended on them, some under the age of five, living in prison alongside their mothers. Due to stigma and social disruption, these impacts do not end with release. They continue to shape the life trajectories of these women, their children, and their communities. Making Justice Systems Work for Everyone The challenge for public authorities today is to design judicial mechanisms that effectively respond to the realities women face in accessing justice. Three priorities areas stand out. First, improving knowledge. Without reliable data on women\u2019s legal needs, public policies remain disconnected from lived realities. This requires systematically documenting the barriers women face and the specific vulnerabilities that affect them. Ius Stella has begun this work through an exploratory study conducted during the 16 Days of Activism campaign, in collaboration with students from the Human Rights Club at the University of Kinshasa. But much more needs to be done. Second, improving accessibility. In many cases, the primary barrier to justice is not the absence of rights, but the lack of information and accessible recourse. Community-based legal aid systems, tailored to women\u2019s economic and social realities, are essential. Third, rethinking the use of incarceration. The overuse of detention for non-violent offenses carries severe social and economic consequences. Expanding alternatives to imprisonment, particularly for mothers, can mitigate these harms without compromising the protective function of the law. Justice as a Lever for Change These challenges are not unique to the DRC or to Africa. They reflect a global issue: turning legal commitments into meaningful change in women\u2019s lives. In this context, the DRC has an opportunity to lead by example, by adopting data-driven, people-centered reforms grounded in lived realities. Because access to justice is not only about protecting rights. It is a critical driver of transformation and progress for women, and for the societies they live in. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Jessica, Founder of Ius Stella Join us today","og_url":"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/fr\/womens-access-to-justice-in-the-drc-a-persistent-gap-between-law-and-reality\/","og_site_name":"Ius Stella","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/IusStella","article_published_time":"2026-03-30T10:35:07+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-04-03T09:18:48+00:00","og_image":[{"width":416,"height":312,"url":"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Blog-Banners-1800x810-1.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Jessica","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"\u00c9crit par":"Jessica","Dur\u00e9e de lecture estim\u00e9e":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/womens-access-to-justice-in-the-drc-a-persistent-gap-between-law-and-reality\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/womens-access-to-justice-in-the-drc-a-persistent-gap-between-law-and-reality\/"},"author":{"name":"Jessica","@id":"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/#\/schema\/person\/4f7eb1a015a8a1c06f773739fd2320eb"},"headline":"Women\u2019s Access to Justice in the DRC: A Persistent Gap Between Law and Reality","datePublished":"2026-03-30T10:35:07+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-03T09:18:48+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/womens-access-to-justice-in-the-drc-a-persistent-gap-between-law-and-reality\/"},"wordCount":890,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/womens-access-to-justice-in-the-drc-a-persistent-gap-between-law-and-reality\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Blog-Banners-1800x810-1.png","articleSection":["Blog"],"inLanguage":"fr-FR","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/womens-access-to-justice-in-the-drc-a-persistent-gap-between-law-and-reality\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/womens-access-to-justice-in-the-drc-a-persistent-gap-between-law-and-reality\/","url":"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/womens-access-to-justice-in-the-drc-a-persistent-gap-between-law-and-reality\/","name":"Women\u2019s Access to Justice in the DRC: A Persistent Gap Between Law and Reality - 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As March, the month dedicated to women\u2019s rights, comes to an end, the usual wave of celebrations has once again unfolded: commemorative fabrics distributed by the thousands, events organized back-to-back, and countless tributes paid to women. 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