Study on Gender-Based Violence Sparks Debate in Brazzaville
Brazzaville — A Congolese NGO published its first public assessment of gender-based violence in the capital on December 12. The 40-page report, compiled in November, depicts a growing problem that is still insufficiently captured by official statistics.
The study was conducted in collaboration with the Judicial Police, four municipal hospitals, and the National Program to Combat GBV, by interviewing officers, clinicians, and 85 survivors. Their main finding: cases increased in 2025 compared to 2023-2024, but reports do not reflect reality.
New Data Reveals a Silent Crisis in Congo
From January to October 2025, the team recorded 612 incidents, including 125 rapes and 57 cases of severe physical violence. About two-thirds of the complaints came from the northern districts of Brazzaville, areas hard hit by post-pandemic economic hardship and recent urban migration, the report states.
While police records mention 357 GBV cases for the same period, hospital records list 781 consultations related to domestic violence. This discrepancy illustrates the invisibility of the phenomenon and hampers planners monitoring Sustainable Development Goal indicator 5.2 on eliminating violence against women.
Why Reporting Remains So Difficult
The survivors interviewed described several obstacles: stigma from relatives, fear of retaliation from partners, and the costs of medical certificates which can exceed 10,000 CFA francs. In several police stations, rape evidence kits were exhausted by September, forcing nurses to improvise and delaying judicial procedures.
Administrative hurdles also hamper data collection. Different forms are used by health posts, social affairs offices, and police investigators, with no electronic interface. “We sometimes write the same facts three times,” said one inspector, “and each sheet can end up in a separate drawer.”
Institutional Response Gains Momentum
The Ministry for the Promotion of Women, supporting the National Program, states that a unified digital platform is being designed. Pilot tests, funded by the World Bank’s SWEDD II initiative, are expected to connect maternity wards and police stations in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire by mid-2026.
A deputy director indicated that a draft decree on data harmonization has been approved by the Prime Minister’s office. “Reliable figures guide effective policy,” she said, adding that President Denis Sassou N’Guesso has repeatedly instructed ministries to protect women and adolescent girls.
Survivors Call for Holistic Care
At Makélékélé Hospital, a psychologist notes that post-traumatic counseling remains underfunded. Only two therapists cover five districts. “The medical act ends, but the nightmares remain,” he noted during a roundtable, urging donors to fund community centers where survivors can rebuild their confidence.
The NGO highlights that emergency contraception and post-exposure prophylaxis kits are sometimes unavailable, especially when supply boats arrive late from Pointe-Noire. The NGO recommends a buffer stock policy and dedicated budget lines in the 2026 Finance Law to ensure a continuous supply.
Digital Survey Opens a New Chapter
To broaden the evidence base, the organization launched an anonymous web questionnaire on December 10. Within 48 hours, 1,400 residents had responded, two-thirds of them men. Preliminary trends suggest greater awareness, as 78% of respondents consider slapping a partner “unacceptable” compared to 62% in 2022.
The data will feed into the national dashboard once the Ministry’s platform is operational. Crowdsourcing, combined with secure helplines, can shorten response times when violence occurs and help police identify hotspots requiring additional patrols or public lighting.
Outlook: Coordination is Key
The report concludes with seven recommendations. The first is the creation of a multi-agency coordination unit chaired by the Prime Minister and including civil society delegates. Observers note that a similar mechanism accelerated COVID-19 data sharing in 2020 and could replicate that success for GBV.
For the NGO, the study is “a starting line, not a finish line.” The NGO commits to providing quarterly updates and conducting awareness campaigns in schools, markets, and bus stations. Its officials believe that with solid statistics and joint action, Congo can achieve its African Union goal of halving GBV by 2030.
A civil society activist and lawyer applauds the government’s supportive stance but warns of resource constraints. “Adopting decrees is easier than paying counselors,” she said. She urges private telecom and oil companies to allocate corporate social responsibility funds, echoing calls in the national gender strategy adopted in 2021.
International partners have shown interest. A gender equality attaché confirmed that a two-year technical assistance program is under discussion with Congolese authorities to train forensic nurses and deploy encrypted data tablets in rural health posts, thus extending reach beyond the capital.
As the 16 Days of Activism campaign ends, banners along Avenue de la Paix proclaim “Statistics Save Lives.” For many observers, this slogan is true: only a transparent picture of the violence will allow Congo’s institutions and communities to design sustainable solutions.