of the issuance of building permits;
Inter-ministerial Order No.120/89 of 6 September, 1989 on measures for the
protection of the public health of towns, urban, commercial, agricultural and mining
centres as well as rural towns;
Ministerial Order No. CAB/MIN-ATUHI TPR 1007/2013 of 26 June, 2013 on the
regulation of building permits in the DRC.
281. Regarding housing, the Congolese Government has a national plan of action (Plan of 2
March, 2002) which recommends the consideration of the gender dimension. This plan has 4
objectives: (i) absorb the housing, basic infrastructure and socio-community equipment deficit;
(ii) sanitize the urban fabric; (iii) e s t a b l i s h land and real estate financing systems, and
(iv) strengthen the planning and urban management capacity at both the local and national
levels.
282. In addition, the Government is organizing grassroots sensitization and information
campaigns on the consequences of unplanned construction within the population. Seminars,
conferences and publication of reports on housing are also being organized by state and nonstate actors.
283. However, over the last few years, a few cases of expropriation which occurred for public
interest purposes have been recorded, while there have been evictions of people from places
not fit for habitation. State workers who wrongfully issued land titles have been the cause of
this situation in many instances. Thus, in 2009, the Government dismissed more than 200
corrupt workers of the Ministry of Lands.
284. Remedies exist for all persons in the event of a violation of their rights: legal and
administrative remedies at the public prosecutor’s department for the handling of disputes and
at the housing department of the various administrative jurisdictions or decentralized territorial
entities.
285. The huge difficulties confronting the country in its quest to provide its people with adequate
housing makes women more disadvantaged: they have serious difficulties in accessing decent
housing.
286. According to Survey 1-2-3 (2012) on housing, 52.4% of the housing units in the urban areas
are built with durable materials, against a mere 7.2% in the rural areas.
RIGHT TO A POSITIVE CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT (Art. 17)
287. Article 14 of the Constitution of 18 February, 2006, states that “the authorities shall ensure
the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women as well as the protection and
promotion of their rights. They shall take appropriate measures in all areas, particularly in
the civil, political, economic, social and cultural spheres to ensure the full development of
women and their total participation in national development”.
288. Law No. 06/018 of 20 July, 2006 which amends and complements the Decree of 30 January,
1940 on the Congolese criminal code provides for and penalizes offences which tend to
undermine the dignity of women.
289. The revised family code aims at creating a positive cultural environment for the promotion
of women in society. The same goes for the establishment of various structures operating in
the gender promotion sector, particularly the Research and Planning Unit for the promotion
and protection of women, the family and children, Agency to Combat Violence Against Women,
National Fund for the Promotion of Women and Protection of Children, National Centre for
Research and Documentation on Women and Gender, etc.
290. To ensure the right to a positive cultural environment, the country has formulated and
adopted policies and strategies, namely:
National Gender Policy;
National strategy to combat gender-based violence;
National strategy for the integration of gender into policies and programme
National strategy for gender-sensitive planning and budgeting.
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