 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
  |
||||||||||||||||||
USAID/OTI's goal in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is to enhance the informed participation of Congolese society in political and economic decision-making processes that contribute to a peaceful, unified, and democratic country. To advance this goal OTI activities fall under three objectives:
USAID/OTI is supporting the following activities to achieve this goal: Radio Okapi: DRC National Radio Initiative - OTI supports Fondation Hirondelle in its collaborative effort with the United Nations Mission in the Congo (MONUC) to broaden the effect of their national radio initiative,Radio Okapi. The station's local language (Lingala, Swahili, Tshiluba, Kikongo) provides the population with balanced information as the peace process advances, ensuring that Congolese are informed on progress made in the normalization of political and social life. Congo en Action pour la Paix (CAP): Small Grants Initiative - Through OTI's implementing partner, CARE International, CAP provides grants that encourage support for the Lusaka Peace Accords and the agreements of the Inter-Congolese Dialogue. OTI-sponsored activities enhance civil society's outreach and participation in the peace process, develop skills needed for advocacy, and connect like-minded groups and organizations throughout the country and the Diaspora. GUTAHUKA (Going Home) & Voices of Children - The Disarmament, Demobilization, Repatriation, Reintegration and Resettlement (DDRRR) process is strengthened by OTI's support of an established radio producer to develop programming in KinyaRwandan for the Radio Okapi show, GUTAHUKA. Additionally, OTI enhances awareness of the issue of child soldiers by supporting the engagement of young people in seeking solutions to the violence that affects them and their communities. The "Voices of Children" program will also strengthen the role that youth play in the development of their communities and enhance their contribution to national dialogues relevant to the peace process.
DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION - - August 22 marked the inauguration of the Congolese Transitional Parliament, in support of the two-year Transitional Government. The commencement of parliamentary activities is key to the initiation of other transitional institutions necessary for the advancement of democratic governance in the Congo. The National Parliament totals 620 members, including 500 representatives and 120 senators belonging to various parties that participated in the Inter-Congolese Dialogue. The National Parliament includes representatives of the former Kinshasa-based government, the unarmed political opposition, civil society, and former rebel movements. The Parliament will have to adopt more than 60 laws concerning nationality, organization and functions of political parties, and management of various other governing institutions. The first priority of the Parliament will be to pass a bill on a general amnesty for former combatants. ITURI -the French-led multinational peace enforcement mission, "Operation Artemis," formally handed over control of Bunia to MONUC's "Ituri Brigade," a contingent of 2,400 soldiers mainly from Bangladesh, Uruguay, Pakistan, Indonesia, Nepal, and India. The Ituri Brigade is expected to total 5,000 troops by the end of September, and is authorized to use all necessary means to fulfill its mandate in Bunia and throughout the district. The UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in the DRC, Julia Motoc, has advocated for the installation of a court in charge of handling cases related to war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the country. The UN Security Council delegated MONUC and the High Commission of Human Rights the responsibility of designing a suitable justice mechanism for crimes committed before July 2002. Crimes that occurred after July 2002 are to be sent to the International Criminal Court, which is already committed to prioritizing its response to cases from the DRC. ECONOMIC – The U.S. selected DRC to be among the countries authorized to trade diamonds pursuant to the U.S. law on "clean diamonds," and the U.S. State Department stated that this would be done in compliance with the Kimberley Process on clean diamonds. Additionally, the UN Security Council issued Resolution 1499 to extend the mandate of the experts' Panel on Illegal Exploitation of Natural and Other Resources of the DRC to October 31, 2004. This resolution will allow the Panel, which is directed by Mahmoud Kassem, to complete its mandate and present an exhaustive report on the DRC to the Security Council.
FONDATION HIRONDELLE: RADIO OKAPI - Due to the previously high level of insecurity in Bunia, and the Ituri region in general, the installation of the Bunia Studio of the Radio Okapi network was prevented for the past several months. The establishment of a more stable security environment by "Operation Artemis" allowed Radio Okapi to send a team of four journalists, a technician, and a station chief to Bunia. Regional programming for Ituri began transmitting from Bunia on August 25. During its first few weeks of operation, Radio Okapi/Bunia reported on the handover from "Operation Artemis" to the "Ituri Brigade." Other regional programming included reports on issues related to health, food distribution, roads rehabilitation, as well as providing an effective means of communication for NGOs and international agencies working in the area. Radio Okapi provided nation-wide coverage of the first session of the Congolese Transitional Parliament. A temporary studio was authorized by the government that allowed Radio Okapi to cover the event, and offer unprecedented, live coverage from inside the Palais du Peuple (Palace of the People). Up-to-date Radio Okapi programs can be heard via the Internet at http://www.monuc.org/radio/. SEARCH FOR COMMON GROUND (SFCG) - GUTAHUKA (DDRRR): A Gutahuka team traveled to the eastern DRC and Rwanda to record special messages from DDRRR officers in Bukavu, Goma, and Masisi targeting ex-Forces Armées Rwandaises (FAR) combatants. The team also visited Kigali, Rwanda to follow-up with ex-combatant returnees about their welfare and security conditions following repatriation from the DRC. Following the cessation of hostilities in the Lubero-Beni-Butembo axis of North Kivu, the DDRRR division of MONUC re-instituted its information campaign through GUTAHUKA that encourages Rwandan expatriate combatants to participate in the DDRRR process. Goma and Bukavu DDRRR offices confirmed that expatriate Rwandan combatants were entering the DDRRR process as a direct result of the information campaign. Members of the GUTAHUKA team accompanied these ex-combatants to Kigali, where responsibility for them was transferred to the Rwandan government commission for demobilization. Voices of Children: This OTI-supported radio program by Search for Common Ground began in August, and consists of a Bukavu-based radio producer working with Congolese children on developing a program for children by children. The programs will address issues affecting young people in conflict areas of eastern Congo. In preparation for the programs, Search for Common Ground identified eleven child radio producers and journalists representing different ages, genders, and social backgrounds, and including former child soldiers. These nascent producers and journalists were provided intensive training on basic journalism skills. The children were then divided into groups and have begun to work on programs on: A strong collaboration has developed with MONUC's Child Protection Sections in both Kivu provinces, who have provided time to talk with children about children involved in armed conflict. The Voices of Children project will benefit from airing on local radio stations in Uvira, Bukavu, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu, and Bunia. CARE Small Grants Initiative: Congo en Actíon pour la Paix (CAP):
NEW PARTNERS - A total of 11 grant agreements totaling totaling $329,912 were signed this month. A sampling of these activities as they meet OTI program objectives is as follows: Objective 1: Increased country-wide availability of and access to balanced information.
Objective 2: Increased public participation in informed dialogue
on issues of national importance. Objective 3: Expanded and strengthened linkages between communities. CURRENT PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS The Road to Peace. The road rehabilitation project being implemented by Coordination des Paysans Pisciculteurs (COPPI) in the Moyens Plateaux, near Uvira in South Kivu, highlights the potential for people to work together on concrete projects to further peace and reconciliation in the DRC. Field staff reported that the local population is “rejoicing” following recent progress on the road. One local stated that “no one ever dreamed that rehabilitation of this route, dating from colonial times, was possible.” This project has increased contact and communication between isolated communities, and most importantly has increased commercial exchange. The market in Rubanga is now functioning at 50% capacity, in Kidote at 60% capacity, and in Sengo at 70% capacity. Logo Contest. Young Congolese between the ages of 12 and 18 traveled to Kinshasa from the eastern provinces of Province Oriental and South Kivu to participate in the CAP awards ceremony for its logo contest. Participants from the east joined peers from Kinshasa to recognize the contribution of several hundred youth throughout the DRC to encourage reconciliation through art. The Minister for Youth and Sport delivered awards and spoke with the participants. CAP MANAGEMENT: The arrival of new management staff and recruitment and hiring for field positions has allowed for greater decentralization of decision-making and procurement, thereby increasing levels of financial authority in the field offices. Revised operational guidelines for procurement, grant development and tracking, and reporting have also been developed.
| |
|||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||
|
