narcotics and alcohol. Hence, all social and cultural practices that affect mental or physical as well as moral dignity are prohibited. To this end, several NGOs and religious or secular associations, governments and specialised United Nations agencies are mobilised to combat and discourage harmful practices mentioned above. The following can be mentioned: Among government institutions, - - - The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, which has legislations and powers authorising it to prevent and punish acts of exclusion and ostracism proscribed by law. It is also responsible for ensuring the protection of children at risk and child juvenile offenders; The Ministry of Territorial Administration responsible for granting all citizens the right to an identity, to legal residence and nationality, in accordance with the laws in force; The Ministry of Education whose mission is to enable all citizens minimum learning necessary and required by law (10 years of free and compulsory education); The Ministry of Health places great importance in its health development plan (PNDS) to the health of mother and child through strategies of safe motherhood, the fight against childhood diseases, the fight against HIV AIDS and prevention of mother to child transmission; -The Ministry for the Promotion of Women, which works to improve the status of women, promote income-generating activities for them, to prevent and fight against all forms of discrimination, abuse and violence against them; -The Ministry of Social Affairs in its core tasks must support the disadvantaged and marginalised groups such as the elderly, widows, orphans, vulnerable children, children and adults with disabilities, poor families, minorities and indigenous population; -The Ministry of Communication, which has major advocacy and public education tools and whose full cooperation must be ensured for information campaigns, education and communication on all matters requiring behaviour changes; - The Ministry of Youth, in charge of civic education that works to develop awareness campaigns and training for a culture of peace and respect for human rights; -The Ministry for Tourism and Recreation is expected to provide children with healthy recreation opportunities; -The Monitoring Committee for Peace continues its outreach efforts, general ownership of a culture of peace, tolerance and democracy; -The National Commission on Human Rights is responsible for the promotion of popularization of human rights. Among the non-governmental institutions developing specific programmes for the protection and promotion of disadvantaged groups are: - AFJC: Association of Women Lawyers of Congo; 18