gisw13_chapters

elieve their primary function to be: an object ofpleasure and procreation; this is even truer in thepolitical world where debates break out every timethe gender parity enshrined in the constitution ismentioned.It is a reminder that women have no businessgetting involved with politics, that they should returnto their kitchens or take care of their husbands,that they have only won the post because of theirintimate relations with one influential male politicianor another.However, in the DRC today, women believe thatthey have the potential to motivate development.They are active in the country’s economy and cometogether in associations that work towards communitydevelopment and, increasingly, in politicalparties not only working with women as mobilisersbut creating women’s federations and involvingthem in their management.Despite the cultural conservatism which meansthat, although they represent 60% of the electorate,Congolese women only represent 20% of candidatesand occupy only 10% of decision-makingposts, the draft implementing law on equal representationwhich stipulates measures to ensure thatpolitical parties have equal numbers of women andmen on their electoral lists should rectify the currentsituation and ensure more justice for women inpolitics. This should also lead to less stigmatisationof women in politics because their presence will belegally justified.With regard to curbing these offences againstwomen, the Criminal Code has become obsolete asit does not incorporate the new forms of violenceagainst women. Sexual violence is the subject of aspecific law and the Criminal Procedure Code hasbeen amended to adapt to the specific nature ofsuch violence, but a law covering technology-basedviolence against women should also be envisaged.Moreover, the women and girls who are thevictims of this abuse are generally not aware ofthe judicial means available to them. Companiesoffering internet-based services should also seeto what extent they should make their customerpolicy public if they have already found technologicalsolutions to the theft of personal data, identitymisappropriation, telephone threats, etc.ConclusionsViolence against female politicians using informationand communications technologies (ICTs) maymerely be the reflection of the cultural conservatismwhich believes that women are not meant tobe decision makers. However, above and beyondfemale politicians, Congolese women need legislationto be developed with regard to violence againstwomen and the use of ICTs. Such types of abuseshould be taken into account so that women areable to take part in the country’s development in aneffective and egalitarian manner.Action steps• Take legal measures to protect women againsttechnology-based violence.• Encourage women to report these violent acts.• Before the next general elections, vote in theimplementing law to ensure equal male-femalerepresentation.• Raise awareness of the benefits of includingwomen and the opinions of women in decisionmaking.• Encourage companies offering internet-basedservices to openly fight these violent acts andpublish the different judicial remedies availableto the users of their services.• Work with parliamentarians to ensure that alaw curbing technology-based violence againstwomen and girls reinforces the country’s legalarsenal. ■102 / Global Information Society Watch