and take adequate measures for their prevention and elimination, several studies have been carried out across the country by independent researchers and/or at the request of the country’s political institutions with the support of technical and financial partners (UN Women, UNFPA and UNDP). Today, in the DRC, violence against women, young women and girls is a thriving field of research. In any case, everyone has assessed the extent of the phenomenon, given its magnitude and is working fervently for its elimination. Studies on the decisive factors of gender-based violence in conflict and non-conflict zones, provincial gender profiles, communication strategy for behavioural change in the context of combating sexual and gender-based violence, the study of the contradictory relationships between the idealized hegemonic masculinity and the realities of men’s life, and the transformation of masculinity, the study on the assistance to victims of sexual violence in the DRC, and so many others have been carried out in recent years in the DRC. 163. Recently, a study on the typology and mapping of gender-based violence has been carried out in order to determine the types of violence women are confronted with, the causes and their consequences, but also their mapping owing to the involvement of socio-cultural factors related to the various provinces of the country. Indeed, the phenomenon of sexual and genderbased violence is more or less the same throughout the country. 164. It is for this reason that the national strategy for combating the VSBG is being revised so as to take into account not only the economic situations such as armed and community conflicts but also, and above all, stereotypes that are anchored in the mentality and behaviour of individuals within the grassroots communities. With the view to initiating a fight against violence on women, the Government through MINIGEFAE, and with the assistance of UNESCO, has developed a national communication strategy on this issue.. This strategy focuses precisely on the fight against stereotypes and other sexist prejudices, in line with the results of field studies. 165. These studies, for the most part, have revealed that the factors underlying gender-based violence are economic (monetary poverty), legal and political (weakness of authority, impunity.), but also socio-cultural (outmoded customs, prolonged celibacy, conception about sexuality, obscene music and dances, man’s superiority, stereotyping women, violent films and pornography) and environmental factors. The determinants of the VSBG are biological (long abstinence, excessive libido.) and psychological (aggressiveness, inability to approach girls, etc.). 166. The studies have also shown that the low social status of women for a long time has gradually improved. Increasingly, men and women themselves are becoming aware of the ability of women to achieve many things in society just in the same way as men. Moreover, the economic crises affecting most households seem to be in favour of women because in the absence of a formal job for the husband, the survival of the household is assured by the informal work of the woman. This weakens the man’s hegemonic power, especially in the management of the household income. 167. To prevent the causes and reduce the consequences of violence against women, appropriate measures have been taken by the Government, including (i) the promotion of gender equality in education, (ii) revision of the family code (development of a new gendersensitive Family Code), (iii) the passage and promulgation of laws ensuring equal access to employment and social protection,(iv) Ratification of the OHADA chart of accounts which places special emphasis on non-discrimination in economic matters between men and women, (v) Encouragement and strengthening of the representation of women in political structures, etc.  Sexual Harassment 168. Education and health are the two social variables which allow women and men to take advantage of opportunities offered them in life. When you have the knowledge and are in good health you can be useful within the community. The comparative analysis of the situation of men and women in these two sectors shows indices of parity g r e a t e r o r e q u a l t o 38