In the Democratic Republic of Congo, as the elections approach, the National Dynamics of Women Candidates (DYNAFEC) presented its list of candidates to the Minister of Gender. This initiative is intended as a way to promote female participation in the next election. Women having a prominent place in Congolese society, their involvement will optimize the representativeness of their voice at the national level.
On the same day, the Minister of Gender also received a delegation from the international NGO IPASS to discuss the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the protocol to the African charter on women’s rights. This meeting made it possible to address the issue of reports on women’s rights and the economic empowerment of women.
The Maputo Protocol is the main legal instrument for the protection of the rights of women and girls in Africa. Adopted in 2003, it entered into force in 2005 after being ratified by the African Union. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, this protocol was published in 2018 after having been authorized by law in 2006.
The celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Maputo Protocol scheduled for July 11 will be an opportunity to pay tribute to advances in women’s rights in the DRC. The NGO IPASS has therefore requested the involvement of the Minister of Gender for the finalization of the country report on this protocol, in order to show Africa the progress made by the DRC.
Finally, the Minister received Ketsia Tshinguta Ilunga to discuss solutions for the digital integration of young Congolese girls. This meeting highlighted the challenges faced by these young girls.
Strengthening the role of women in society is a major challenge for the DRC. The involvement of the latter in the next election represents an opportunity to improve the representativeness of their voice at the national level.