Kinshasa, June 3rd, 2026 (CPA).- The participation of women in public debate has been encouraged to strengthen the protection of their rights and perpetuate the advances made in the area of women’s leadership in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), during discussions on Wednesday in Kinshasa at a public forum. “When the women are absent from major debates, others decide on their behalf. And it is rarely those who are absent who write the rules. Your place in the public debate is important, as it helps to strengthen the protection of their rights and to perpetuate the gains made in terms of women’s leadership,” has declared Kikina Mungul Diaka, founder of “Coup de gueule de la femme” (The women’s Outcry).
‘Since a few days ago, everyone is talking about the referendum – the politicians, the experts and the media. But where are the women in this discussion?’ she has added. Ms Mungul Diaka has specified that whenever a nation redefines its rules, the rights can either advance or regress.
Yet the gains made by Congolese women have never been handed to them freely. “The gains made in terms of the right to education, the participation in public life, the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) and the economic empowerment of women are the fruits of many years of struggle. That is why the women cannot remain mere spectators in the face of public debates,” she has indicated.
According to her, it is not a question of supporting or rejecting a reform, it is a question of understanding, informing oneself, questioning and participating. The founder of “Coup de gueule de la femme” has emphasised that it is important to ask the right questions so that women’s rights are protected, young girls have more opportunities in the future, and mechanisms to protect women are strengthened during these public debates.