Mbuji-Mayi, May 9th, 2025 ( CPA) – The rejection of backward cultures and traditional behaviors has been advised to men and boys in order to promote positive masculinity, during a morning of exchange on Thursday in Mbuji-Mayi, main town of Kasaï Oriental, in the centre of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). ‘It is important to show strength in gender-based non-violence.
That’s why I encourage men and boys to adopt respectful behaviors and reject toxic norms and retrograde traditional cultures and behaviors of positive masculinity’, has said Carlin Vese, community engagement expert with the “Association for Family Well-being and Desirable Births” (ABEF-ND). ‘It is essential to understand that showing strength in the face of gender-based violence does not mean responding with violence. On the contrary, it means demonstrating a determination to break the cycle of violence through peaceful and constructive means’, he has added, before inviting women to support these positive changes without seeking revenge. For his part, Dr Placide Mbuyi, ABEF-ND’s head of mission for the ‘PACT’ project, covering GBV, sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) and sexual harassment (SH) in the provinces of Kasai Oriental and Lomami, has explained that thanks to the ‘PACT’ project, the voices of the people of Kasai Oriental and Lomami have been raised in the fight against GBV, SEA and SH through the promotion of positive masculinity and femininity.
‘Each of us has the inner power to put an end to the cycle of violence, including GBV, ASR and sexual violence. The important thing is to recognize this power in order to break the chains of violence and build safer, more egalitarian communities’, he has said.
Preventing violence from the outset
Furthermore, Mr. Carlin Vese Pinzi has hammered on the importance of vigilance and rapid reaction to the first signs of violence. ‘The Firefighters know that the earlier the alarm is sounded, the better the chances of putting out the fire before it destroys everything’, he has said. ‘The proactive sensitization is crucial to prevent the escalation of violence, including that linked to GBV/EAS/HS.
The actions undertaken in the provinces of Lomami and Kasaï Oriental, in particular by ABEF-ND as part of the PACT-VBG/EAS/HS, are aimed at building the capacity of communities to detect and respond effectively to the warning signs of GBV/EAS/HS,’ he has made clear. The ‘Thursday in Black’ campaign is a symbolic opportunity to mobilize against GBV, SEA and HS. Training and sensitization campaigns are being conducted for local populations, neighbors and workers (managers and workers) to establish a culture of zero tolerance towards violence, including GBV/ASE/HS.
mered on the importance of vigilance and rapid reaction to the first signs of violence. ‘The Firefighters know that the earlier the alarm is sounded, the better the chances of putting out the fire before it destroys everything’, he has said. ‘The proactive sensitization is crucial to prevent the escalation of violence, including that linked to GBV/EAS/HS. The actions undertaken in the provinces of Lomami and Kasaï Oriental, in particular by ABEF-ND as part of the PACT-VBG/EAS/HS, are aimed at building the capacity of communities to detect and respond effectively to the warning signs of GBV/EAS/HS,’ he has made clear. The ‘Thursday in Black’ campaign is a symbolic opportunity to mobilize against GBV, SEA and HS. Training and sensitization campaigns are being conducted for local populations, neighbors and workers (managers and workers) to establish a culture of zero tolerance towards violence, including GBV/ASE/HS.