51. By means of this free education policy, the gross enrolment ratio increased from 83.4% to 98
between 2007 and 2012.
52. Other achievements have also been recorded within the context of this strategy, namely: the
construction and rehabilitation of school infrastructure (1000 schools with 128 of them already
built, while 513 are still ongoing including 149 schools under the basic education assistance
project called “PROSEB”. Others are the building of training centres and resources for the
continuous training of teachers (Kinshasa, Bandundu, Kalemie, Kowezi, Kikwit, Mbandaka and
Kisangani); the increase in the national budgetary allocation for education which rose by 15%
in 2013 and by 17% in 2014; responsibility for school textbooks for pupils at the primary level
and teachers’ textbooks. The parity index was 0.87 in 2012. Further information on this
thematic issue has been provided in Part B of this report.
Article 18: PROTECTION OF THE FAMILY, ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST
WOMEN AND PROTECTION OF CHILD RIGHTS
53. In order to address discrimination against women, the DRC has taken some legislative
initiatives such as Law No. 11/013 of 1 August 2015 on the implementation of modalities on
the rights of women and gender parity, and the law amending and complementing the Family
Code.
54. Law No. 15/001 of 12 February, 2015 amending and complementing Law No. 06 of 9 March,
2006 on the organisation of presidential, legislative, provincial, urban , municipal and local
elections as amended by Law 11/003 of 25 June, 2011.
55. In order to protect the child, the government issued Decree No. 13/008 of 23 January, 2013
on the establishment of the framework for national humanitarian dialogue, Ministerial Order
No. 143 of 10 November, 2010 on the establishment of the Steering Committee on Streetism,
the ministerial Order No. 063/CABMIN AFF SAHSN/2012 of 17 September, 2012 on the
establishment, organisation and functions of the social assistants corps in the DRC was issued.
56. Furthermore, strategies were designed, among others, the strategy for the implementation of
the national youth policy, the Strategic Plan for the Development of Literacy and Non-Formal
Education (from 2012, 2020)) the implementation of which has already started; the National
Action plan for Orphans and Vulnerable Children.
57. It is necessary to also mention the process of gradual free primary education initiated in the
public sector, the improved access to education in line with the Interim Education Plan (PIE),
the building of schools and health centres from government’s own resources and the total
eradication of the phenomenon of child soldiers from the army.
Articles 19 and 20: THE RIGHT OF PEOPLES TO SELF-DETERMINATION
58. There is no new development on this thematic issue as compared to the information provided
in the previous report.
Articles 21 and 22: NATURAL RESOURCES AND ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL
RIGHTS
59. Additional information has been provided in part B of this report.
Article 23: PEACE AND SECURITY
60. With regard to peace and security, the development of the situation is what has been presented
within the general context of this report.
Article 24: THE RIGHT OF PEOPLES TO A SATISFACTORY ENVIRONMENT
61. Since 2002, the government has initiated a reform of the forestry sector. In 2009, the
government committed itself to the implementation of a mechanism for the reduction of
emissions caused by deforestation and forest degradation (REDD). The issue of access to
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