This thesis aims to explore the impact of international assistance on challenging sexual violence crimes in conflict in the eastern DRC. In this regard, firstly, a broad understanding of the notion of violence is provided by gendering Slavoj Žižek’s theory of violence which claims that sexual violence crimes are more than the physical acts of violence as they are an expression of unequal gender power relations. The thesis then explores whether international assistance challenging sexual violence crimes through the rule of law employ these deeper understandings of violence. The main argument is that in order to end sexual violence crimes, violence embedded in gender power relations needs to be challenged in addition to the visible acts of violence. Hence, this thesis will explore whether changes in gender power relations or a transformation of gender performativity is affected by international assistance.
Thesis
Bringing Justice to the People: Examining International Assistance to the DR Congo’s Judiciary and Its Impacts on Sexual Violence Crimes and Gender Power Relations in North Kivu
