Standing up in Geneva for vulnerable children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
In Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), an estimated 30 000 to 50 000 children and young people live on the streets according to UNICEF. The constantly increasing phenomenon exposes the most vulnerable to great dangers and enhance their loneliness. In this context of extreme marginalization, the REEJER (Réseau des Educateurs des Enfants et Jeunes de la Rue), a network of organizations working for the sake of children in street situations, is increasing its efforts to raise awareness about this phenomenon among the population and public authorities, and consequently, to better protect and promote their rights.
Given this context, in May 2019 the REEJER will participate, jointly with Apprentis d’Auteuil and the FAAI, in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the DRC at the United Nations in Geneva. An alternative report and recommendations asking for a better guarantee of the right to education and to health, and a better protection for the most vulnerable, have already been submitted.
Prior to the UPR, two REEJER members will defend these recommendations during the UPR Pre-sessions in Geneva from 1 to 5 April 2019, with the objective of convincing the permanent missions to address them to the DRC during the UPR session in May.
Last October, the FAAI and Apprentis d'Auteuil had already supported a partner from the Republic of Congo, REIPER, in the same exercise (see news).
UPR: How does it work?
Every four years, the Human Rights Council, a body composed of 47 elected United Nations Member States (UNMS), assesses the human rights situation in each of the 192 UNMS. Every state under review submits its national report to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. This report consists of an overview of the human rights situation in the state and a presentation of the progress made in the implementation of the recommendations adopted during the previous cycles of the UPR. Recommending states can address recommendations to the state under review. When those recommendations are accepted by the state under review, the government commits to their implementation within the next four years. Prior and during this review, civil society organisations can present their own assessment and put forward their recommendations to UNMS. This is a way to pressure their government.