Masculinities In Conflict

Living Peace Institute is a NGO based in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). They have been working for over a decade with men and boys, next to women and girls, to break cycles of violence at home and communities. LPI will screen the documentary “Men Beyond War”, portraying their approach in working with traumatised and violent men in a context of war and poverty. 

This powerful documentary is exploring the lives of men in eastern DRC who are confronting the lasting effects of war and trauma. Through intimate group therapy sessions, the film reveals their struggles, resilience, and hopes for healing, while examining how masculinities can shape experiences of violence and recovery. Used in mobile cinema screenings across eastern DRC, the film creates spaces for communities to reflect on trauma, mental health, and shared responsibility for peacebuilding. 

Following the screening, the audience will have the opportunity to engage in a Q&A with the methodology’s developers and researchers, Dr. Benoit Ruratotoye and Henny Slegh, joined by Aloys Mahwa, Country Director of the Living Peace Institute in Goma. 

The session will highlight the importance of engaging men and boys alongside women and girls in addressing gendered responses to trauma and their role in perpetuating cycles of conflict. It will also deepen understanding of the critical links between mental health, psychosocial well-being, and sustainable peace.