United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa)
Eoin Young
11 March 2008
Kinshasa — A Carter Center Human Rights house was officially opened in Kinshasa on Tuesday 11 March 2008. It will serve as an information and resource centre for the general public, and will also aim to reinforce the organisational, institutional and operational capacities of Human Rights NGOs and civil society organisations in the DRC.
In attendance was Carter Center office director Mr. Epihane Zoro-Bi, Dutch embassy representative Mr. Roy Hans, DRC Vice Minister for Human Rights Mr. Claude Nyamugambo and MONUC Human Rights Director Mr. Fernando Castanon, as well as civil society and human rights NGO representatives.
The new centre, which was funded by the Dutch government in collaboration with the Carter Center, aims to give civil society a framework upon which to reflect and construct a unified and democratic civil society, immersed in a strong human rights culture.
Mr. Epihane Zoro-Bi said that the Cater Centre wanted "to have the point of the view of civil society taken into account."
"We think that governmental actors should accompany civil society members, and support their actions for democracy and a state where human rights are respected," he added.
Dutch embassy representative Mr. Roy Hans said that human rights defenders were "the voice and conscience of society."
"In order that they are heard by citizens and the government, they must have full freedom of expression. The liberty and security of human rights defenders must be guaranteed by the Congolese government, with the support of its international partners," he added.
Mr. Fernando Castanon said that "education was an indispensable element in all strategies for the protection and promotion of human rights."
"The reinforcement of international cooperation is also important in the domain of human rights education, particularly between the institutions, civil society and regional orgnaisations," he added.
For his part, DRC Vice Minister for Human Rights Mr. Claude Nyamugambo welcomed the Carter Centre Initiative for the promotion and protection of human rights in the DRC.
Services on offer at the house include a welcome centre, library, internet facilities and conference rooms. The house will also hold human rights training programmes on specific themes, as well as forums, seminars and workshops on human rights related issues and events.
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