UPR Info witnesses first-ever in-country presentation of UPR mid-term reports in DRC

Thursday 17 November, the first ever in-country multistakeholder presentation and debate on the UPR mid-term reports took place in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The CIDH (represented by the Permanent Secretary General Maître Aïda Kalenga and the Adjoint Secretary Mr. Jean-Baptiste Ingoli) presented an overview of their mid-term report, highlighting some key advancements such as those about the rights of people with disabilities. The CIDH also expressed some of the challenges they’ve been facing in the implementation of supported recommendations. Maître Véronique Mwamba highlighted the implementation of recommendations about the NHRI itself, as well as the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture.

During the event, five CSO speakers, representing the National CSO UPR Coalition, presented advancements made in the thematic issues pertaining to freedom of expression and protection of journalists; legislative framework on torture, people living with disabilities, first-nation and indigenous peoples, especially pygmy; women, peace and security, and environment, among others. Civil society also took the opportunity to suggest some recommendations to all present stakeholders on how to engage to achieve full and impactful implementation of UPR recommendations.

Following the presentations, members of the international community (embassies and UN agencies present) asked questions regarding their previously formulated recommendations. This proved to be a very fruitful dialogue, as it allowed for an enriching discussion on follow-up and saw Government officials, NHRI and CSOs united in providing further information regarding the status of implementation.

This conference on the exchange of information and assessment of UPR implementation can constitute a new good practice for States that want to further strengthen their engagement with the UPR at the national level, whilst reinforcing the emphasis on the implementation and impact of multistakeholder engagement with the mechanism.

I would like to congratulate you all for your diligence and the quality of your work. We now have quality information on the basis of which the Democratic Republic of the Congo can validly present the progress made and measure the challenges still to be met for the advancement of human rights in the country. ... You can be proud of the culture of results, the working methods and the spirit of collaboration that we have gradually built up over the last few years. I am confident that we will continue along this path, in order to better respond, with the support of technical and financial partners, to the aspirations of rights holders. -

M. Abdoul Aziz THIOYE, Director of MONUSCO

Since 2018, UPR Info has worked with local partners, such as the BCNUDH (Bureau Conjoint des Nations Unies pour Les Droits de l’Homme) from the MONUSCO (United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission on the Democratic Republic of Congo), the Carter Center, and the National Human Rights Institution (NHRI / CNDH-RDC in French) to foster collaboration between all stakeholders and ensure national ownership of the process.

To this end, UPR Info conducted training for journalists and training for the Interministerial Committee on Human Rights (CIDH), members of Civil Society, and the NHRI to help them prepare a structured presentation of their respective UPR mid-term reports. These reports have been underway for the last year, with the remote support of UPR Info and local partners, and will serve as an assessment of the implementation process halfway through the cycle.

UPR Info greatly thanks the Belgium Embassy in the DRC, the BCNUDH, and the Carter Center for their continuous support and fruitful collaboration.

For more information on activities in the DRC, see: