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OHCHR in Democratic Republic of the Congo
OHCHR in Democratic Republic of the Congo (2006-2007)
OHCHR's office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was established in 1996, in the midst of a conflict affecting the DRC and some neighboring countries. Three years later, the DRC, Angola , Namibia , Rwanda , Uganda and Zimbabwe signed the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement, and the Security Council established the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC). Since them, OHCHR's office in the country has carried out its activities in close coordination with the Human Rights Division (HRD) of MONUC. In 1999, a sub-regional OHCHR office was opened in the city of Goma , in eastern DRC. Currently, OHCHR in DRC is undergoing an integration process with the Human Rights Division of MONUC. This process is well advanced at the programme level.
The Office's main tasks are to monitor and report on the human rights situation in the country, provide support and assistance to the Independent Expert on the DRC and to other special procedures mandate-holders and treaty-monitoring bodies, and advise and train public officials, human rights NGOs, and others on international human rights standards and practices.
2006-2007 Programme
OHCHR's activities in the DRC will focus on capacity-building and promotion of human rights, monitoring and protection, and mainstreaming human rights into all United Nations programmes.
Activities aimed at enhancing the capacity of the Government to develop national protection systems will include organizing human rights training seminars, workshops, and training courses at the national and provincial levels, and providing documentation on human rights, including international legal instruments. Emphasis will be placed on training members of the armed forces and the police to respect the rights of women by avoiding all forms of violence and abuse against them, particularly rape and other forms of sexual exploitation. OHCHR is a main partner in a multi-agency programme to combat sexual and gender-based violence in the DRC. Support will also be provided in the area of human rights education by working on the integration of human rights into school curricula, as well as through a multi-faceted awareness-raising programme aimed at promoting a culture of peace, tolerance and respect for human rights in the DRC.
The capacity of civil society groups, including human rights NGOs, to engage the Government on human rights issues and effectively seek redress will be enhanced through training and workshops. Human rights awareness-raising campaigns will be held in all regions.
Monitoring and protection activities will include conducting and reporting on special investigations into human rights abuses. Victims and vulnerable groups will be given special attention in cooperation with national and international mechanisms for human rights protection, particularly the Independent Expert and other special procedures. Freedom of expression and political rights will be emphasized. Field visits will also be undertaken to monitor assistance to victims of torture.
The office will organize human rights mainstreaming workshops and seminars for UN agencies in an effort to integrate human rights into the strategies and programmes of the United Nations Country Team, and to enhance the capacity of UN agencies to assist the Government in the developing national protection systems. Of particular importance is the development of national legislation that conforms to international human rights standards.
Expected Accomplishments
Enhanced capacity of state and national institutions (Government, parliament, the judiciary, etc.) to promote and protect human rights, with a focus on women, youth and vulnerable groups.
Enhanced capacity and awareness of civil society groups on their rights.
Increased participation of all citizens in the electoral process.
Enhanced capacity of UN agencies to assist the Government in the development of national promotion and protection systems.
Contact in Geneva, Switzerland.
Africa Branch
United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Congo
Tel. (+243 81 890 6991
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Email: monusco-jhro-drc@un.org
United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo (MONUSCO)
African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
African Court of Human Rights
National Human Rights Observatory