December 2001, which Order was revised successively on 17 April, 2007 and 12 June, 2009, and it is made up members from the various ministries. Apart from the preparation of reports, the Committee ensures monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of human rights Treaties and recommendations by Treaty Bodies. The MAPUTO Protocol is part of these instruments. The Committee also ensures the preservation of documents and keeps statistics on the human rights situation, including all group rights. Parliamentary Networks on Human Rights and Gender 105. The establishment of the Parliamentary Network on Human Rights in Parliament, in the post-elections era in 2006, is a major advantage for the promotion of human rights in the country. This network of senators and deputies is aimed at attracting the attention of the government on key human rights issues for which urgent solution would be proffered. Alongside this national human rights mechanism, there are also provincial and national Parliamentary networks on gender which focus more on issues relating to the rights of women. III MPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE PROTOCOL 1. EQUALITY/NON-DISCRIMINATION  ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION (ARTICLE 2) 106. In the light of the country’s situation, characterized by persistent gender inequalities and taking into consideration the commitments made by ratifying international and regional instruments on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, i.e. the MAPUTO Protocol, particularly Article 2, points 1 and 2, the Democratic Republic of Congo has resolved to establish the principle of gender equality in the Constitution of the country. This principle is implemented in all aspects of national life, economic, political, social and cultural. Indeed, the Constitution of 18 February, 2006 prohibits in Article 13, any discriminatory measures in education and access to public service or in any other domain. 107. Article 14 of the Constitution is more explicit as it enjoins public authorities to ensure the elimination of any form of discrimination against women in political, economic, social and cultural spheres and to take all necessary measures to ensure the full development and participation of women in the development of the nation , and to fight against any form of violence perpetrated against women in public and private life; to ensure that women enjoy equitable representation in national, provincial and local institutions and to guarantee the implementation of gender parity in the said institutions. 108. In order to comply with the Constitution of the country and with all international and regional legal instruments regarding the rights of women to which the DRC has acceded, the existing laws thereof are strictly implemented, while some of them have been reviewed and other developed to ensure equality and non-discrimination among men and women in all spheres of national life 109. This refers specifically to the following laws for purposes of illustration:  The framework law on primary, secondary and vocational education including higher and tertiary education which reaffirms the principle of equality and nondiscrimination. Access to schools at all levels, to all disciplines and curricula, and to scholarships is provided to all without any discrimination based on gender or any other criterion.  Law No. 015/2002 of 16 October, 2002 on the new labour code, in Article 7 does not make any distinction between men and women when concluding a labour contract. Indeed, this law has brought about significant innovations, particularly, the removal of Article 3 of the previous Code of 1963 which imposed matrimonial authorisation for married women to offer her services in proper and due form;  Law No. 18/003 of 17 July,1981 on the status of career staff in public services which specifies in Article 8, equal conditions of access to the public service for men and women; 29

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