Human rights NGOs form a federation

A number of human rights organisations in the Republic of Congo (R0C) have formed a coalition with the objective of bringing about closer collaboration in their efforts to promote democracy, good governance, and human rights in the country, according to a communique from the ROC government. Speaking in the capital, Brazzaville, last week at a ceremony to launch the Federation congolaise des droits de l'homme (Fecodho), its president, Cephas Germain Ewangui, a former vice-president of the national electoral commission, said: "The work of the Federation will not consist of disseminating inflammatory pamphlets or declarations against public authorities; rather, it will focus on providing a deeper analysis of the strengths and weaknesses in the domain of human rights and democracy with a view towards a campaign focused on community education and the support, promotion and development of a culture for respect of human rights and basic liberties. "The protection of citizens against abuse by state authorities will equally be a subject of concern for Fecodho." Fecodho is made up of the following NGOs and associations: l'Association panafricaine Thomas Sankara (APTS), of which Ewangui is the head; la Convention nationale des droits de l'homme (Conadho); la Ligue des droits de l'homme; l'Association pour la democratie et les droits de l'homme; le Club UNESCO [UN Scientific and Cultural Organisation] des droits de l'homme et la culture de paix (Cudhoc); l'Association Afrique avenir; l'Association congolaise pour la sante et le developpement; and la Communaute de developpement et d'actions sociales au Congo. Critics, however, dismissed the federation as a vehicle to endear its leaders to President Denis Sassou-Nguesso and better position them for appointments in his new government. They added that apart from APTS, Conadho and Cudhoc, they had never heard of the member organisations.