Rights conference produces draft charter and action plan

The National Conference on Human Rights in the DRC, which brought together 385 delegates from all provinces of the DRC, along with 30 observers and Congolese from abroad, concluded on Saturday, the Kinshasa-based daily ‘Le Potentiel’ reported on Monday. The conference, which ran from 24 to 30 June, culminated in the adoption of a “Congolese Charter of Human Rights” and a national plan of action for the promotion and protection of human rights, to be submitted for approval to President Joseph Kabila. A number of recommendations were also formulated for consideration by the DRC government, among them training the police and military to respect civilians, the creation of a commission akin to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa, and regular payment of reasonable salaries to civil servants. Although DRC Human Rights Minister Ntumba Luaba criticised some attendees for “using the conference as a forum to air specific grievances”, he congratulated participants on the “level of ethics and responsibility shown”, as well as the quality of contributions made by individuals and committees during the week-long conference, ‘Le Potentiel’ reported. “Together we have adopted important resolutions solidifying the bases of democracy, the rule of law, good governance, human rights and the rights of the Congolese people,” Luaba told the gathering.