The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to be a dangerous place for women and girls due to ongoing gender-based violence. This policy brief examines the obstacles to achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 to promote "peace, justice and strong institutions" in the DRC and reduce all forms of violence. Criminal justice reforms in North Kivu, DRC, such as the implementation of the Law on Sexual Violence, have struggled because of their top-down approach that excludes local governance structures and customary chiefs in the management of local conflicts. In order to fulfill SDG 16 targets, women need to play a central role, along with local customary structures, in improving their access to justice and participation within local institutions.
