been achieved in the attainment of all these goals, particularly the MDG 2 which seeks to achieve universal primary education. Among the major achievements of the DRC’s progression to the MDGs, the following ones can be cited: significant decrease in the incidence of poverty, though inequalities still persist across the country; improvement in enrolment, literacy and completion rates in primary and secondary schools; increase in boys-girls indices in education, particularly at the basic level where parity has been achieved; reduction in infant-child mortality; decrease in maternal mortality by one third since 2001, though it is still high compared with the African average; reduction in the trend of HIV/AIDS infection; enhancement of the protected zones, coupled with a very low rate of environmental degradation; improvement in the livelihoods of households with regard to electricity services as well as access to drinking water, sanitation and housing; enhancement of information and communication technology (ICT) for greater economic opportunities. However, in spite of all these achievements, several challenges still persist, particularly in the area of means of communication, access to healthcare, equality and gender equity. - Measures taken towards the implementation of the recommendations made in the Concluding Observations arising from the consideration of the previous report. 15. The Democratic Republic of Congo took note of the recommendations contained in the concluding observations submitted after consideration of the previous report presented at the 48 th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights held from 10 to 24 November, 2010, in Banjul, the Gambia. In this regard, while thanking the Commission for the relevance of the observations made, it welcomed the fact that a number of measures had been taken to implement the recommendations in question. The Commission had recommended to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo to: i. Ensure that the “Interministerial Committee on the Preparation of its Initial and Periodic Human Rights Reports” carries out the preparation of subsequent periodic reports in consultation with civil society; The DR-Congo has firmly resolved to formally involve civil society in the preparation of all periodic and initial reports on human rights. Thus, the preparation of this report was characterized by the active participation of human rights organizations and women’s associations within the context of the interministerial committee responsible for drafting the country’s reports on the implementation of international legal instruments. Article 6 of the Ministerial Order No. 04/CAB/MDH/038KGB/2009 of 12 June, 2009 establishing the Interministerial Human Rights Committee provides that delegates of human rights NGOs, trade unions and other professional associations, may, in an advisory capacity, take part in deliberations of the Interministerial Committee at the invitation of the Minister for Human Rights. ii. Take into consideration the need to send an intersectoral and interministerial delegation during the consideration of the next report; The DR-Congo took note of this recommendation and promised to comply with this obligation during the presentation of subsequent reports. iii. Adopt all relevant legislative measures including plans, policies and programmes to give effect to the provisions of the African Charter; Concerning the relevant legislative measures as well as plans, policies and programmes to give effect to the provisions of the African Charter, efforts have been made in this regard as indicated 6