political will was confirmed by the Head of State in his State of the Nation address on 8 December, 2010: “One of the major challenges we need to rise above in the coming years for the development of the DRC is the implementation of gender parity. There is no reason to have any doubts about it, if we so desire, we can get there”. 131. Consequently, to guarantee the rights of women, especially their right to political participation within the context of democratic governance under conditions of equality and gender parity, several legislative measures have been adopted and they include:  The law on political parties which prohibits discrimination based on ethnic origin, religion, gender and language in the formation, organization and functioning of political parties. Under the terms of Article 13 of the Law on financing political parties, the latter shall qualify to receive subsidy from the public Treasury only when the gender parity ratio has been determined after drawing up the electoral lists;  The organic law on the functioning of the Independent National Electoral Commission stipulates in Article 7 that the appointment of members must take into consideration the national representation of women;  Law No. 11/013 of 11 August, 2011 on the organization, functioning of the Congolese National Police (PNC) encourages and promotes the recruitment of women into the police service as provided for in Articles 56 and 59 respectively to the effect that “ the strength of the workforce at all levels, the command positions at all times and under all circumstances must take into account objective criteria related both to physical fitness, adequate knowledge, proven moral records and to equitable representation in the provinces. It shall also take into account gender representation” and that “the recruitment into the national police must take place through competitive examinations, either internally or by direct means, according to the needs expressed in the national budget , while taking into consideration“ the provincial balance, gender and equalizations determined within the services and units”;  Law No. 015/013 of 1 August 2015 on the modality for the implementation of the rights of women and parity which sets the “modalities for the implementation of these rights in line with Article 14 of the Constitution. This law is also based on international legal instruments ratified by the country; this is additional proof of the political will and commitment of the Congolese authorities to incorporate gender into all segments of national life. 132. As institutional mechanisms , the Gender Thematic Groups are being established in the provinces with the aim of providing support for the preparation, implementation and monitoring-evaluation of the national, provincial or local development strategy in collaboration with the DSCRP II, the National Gender Policy, the National Strategy for Combating Sexual and Gender-based Violence and the National Action Plan on Resolution 1325. 133. The Gender Thematic Groups have the mandate to support the Ministry of Women, Family and Children’s Affairs in defining, developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating sector-based development policies, strategies in relation to gender equality and empowerment of women and also assisting in ensuring ownership of sector-based policies, strategies and programmes in the area of gender by the various stakeholders, mobilizing and coordinating funding the implementation of these policies, strategies and programmes, and promoting the harmonization of sectoral interventions by donors in order to ensure a better division of labour in the area of gender. 134. With regard to policies and programmes related to political participation of women, it must be indicated that the National Strategy for the Political Participation of Women in Democratic Governance is in the process of finalization. Towards this end, several projects have been designed and executed, in particular, the design of a female political leadership mapping with the support of the UNDP, UN Women and the active involvement of CENI. 135. The Ministry of Women, Family and Children’s Affairs with the support of the technical and financial partners and women’s NGOs organize capacity building activities for political parties 33