Gender and empowerment of rural women;
PANA- ASA PROJECT: Agricultural sector capacity strengthening project in the DRC
(2010-2014);
National Environmental, Forestry, Water and Biodiversity Programme (PN EFEB2).
308. For the education of the population, the DRC organized a campaign on the articles of Law
No. 11/009 of 9 July, 2011 on the fundamental principles relating to the protection of the
environment and the PNEFEB popularization campaign. It should also be stated that in June
2002, the country approved the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme
(CAADP) in Rome, before signing the agreement committing member countries to allocate at
least 10% of their national budgets to agricultural investment in 2003 in Maputo.
6. RIGHT TO PEACE (ARTICLE 10)
309. The vision of the government is to enable the DRC to live at peace with itself and with its
neighbouring countries to foster national unity and consolidated territorial integrity. That is
why, in order to strengthen governance and peace, the policy of the Government defined in
the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (GPRSP 2) aims at consolidating political
stability, security, the authority of the State and republican governance which determine the
effective implementation of the development activities of the country and the attainment of
development outcomes centred on gender equality.
INCLUSION OF WOMEN IN THE CONFLICT PREVENTION AND PEACEKEEPING
PROCESS (ARTICLE 10(1)) AND IN ALL ASPECTS OF POST-CONFLICT
RECONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION (ARTICLE 10(2))
310. Articles 51 and 52, as well as Articles 14 and 15a of the Constitution of the Democratic
Republic of Congo of 18 February, 2006 as amended currently establish the rights of all
Congolese, particularly women, to peace, security for peaceful and harmonious coexistence
of all ethnic groups of the country and the protection of vulnerable groups and all minorities.
311. To give meaning to this intention expressed in the Constitution, and considering the war and
armed conflict situation which has prevailed in the country since 1996, the DRC has made
several commitments at the local, regional and international levels to restore peace and
security to areas of conflict in times past and carried out several reforms to consolidate peace
and security as well as to ensure the reconstruction of the country.
312. While the MAPUTO Protocol had not yet come into force, this work was done in accordance
with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 of 2000 to which the country has
acceded. In fact, this basic international legal instrument affirms the role of women in the
conflict resolution and peace consolidation process and urges countries to consider the
representation of women during the various peace talks.
313. For the increased participation of women in sensitization programmes relating to peace and
the culture of peace, it should be noted that various information and sensitization activities
conducted by women and for women are organized annually by the Ministry of Women, Family
and Children’s Affairs and civil society organizations: it should also be noted that days of
reflection are organized by women from the various sectors in March every year for women.
Finally, note should be taken of the world women’s walk for peace organized in Bukavu on 17
October, 2010.
314. In the last two decades, Congolese women have played a significant role in the conflict
prevention, management and resolution process at the local, regional, continental and
international levels. In fact, in the quest for peace in the country, particularly in the east,
several agreements were signed over the period 2005-2015 between the Government of the
DRC, the various warring factions and the neighbouring countries to put an end to the cycle of
violence, particularly in the eastern part of the country. Among these agreements, mention
should be made of the (i) pact of 15 December, 2006 on the security, stability and development
of the Great Lakes region; (ii) various commitments made as part of the tripartite commission
in Lubumbashi (DRC) on 8 June, 2007 and in Kampala on 17 September, 2007 to do away
with the threat of illegal armed groups through peaceful or military means; (iii) joint
communiqué of the Government of the DRC and the Government of Rwanda on a common
approach to put an end to the threat to the peace and stability of the two countries and the
Great Lakes region, and (iv) “ Nairobi” communiqué signed by the Congolese and Rwandan
governments on 9 November, 2007 with the purpose of disarming the FDLR.
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