DRC Celebrates Launch of Localization Guidelines for Integration of UNSCR 1325 and 1820

The Ceremony for the Launch of the Guidelines for the integration of United Nations Resolutions (UNSCR) 1325 and 1820 of the local development plans in Democratic Republic of Congo took place in Kinshasa, DRC on 18 August 2015.

The creation and launch of the Guidelines took place in partnership with Ministery of Gender, Women and Children, le Cadre permanent de Concertation de la Femme Congolaise (CAFCO), and with the support of the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP).

Members of civil society organizations across DRC, including CAFCO, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom- DRC (WILPF-DRC) , and Synergie des Femmes pour les Victimes des Violences Sexuelles (SFVS), among others attended the event. The consultants who wrote the Guidelines, members of GNWP and other distingueshed guests also attended. Representatives from the government of DRC participated on the ceremony including: The Secretary General of the Ministry of Gender, Women and Children; Madam Provincial Minister of Education City from the Province of Kinshasa; and the Madam Vice of the Minister of Energy who spoke on behalf of the Minister of State for Decentralization and Customary Affairs.

The President of CAFCO, Madame Rose MUTOMBO Kiesse, welcomed the participants and guests and gave the history of UNSCR 1325 and 1820. She spoke of the adoption of the resolutions in DRC and the development and importance of implementation of the Guidelines for the DRC.

The International Coordinator of GNWP, Mavic Cabrera Balleza, also spoke to the audience on the importance of the Guidelines –

“to ensure local communities participation in policy making and implementaion of peace and security, to strengthen collaboration of national and local of government authorities, and civil society organizations to achieve the goals of the National Action Plan (NAP). The launch of the DRC Guidelines is timely because October marks the 15th anniversary of UNSCR 1325. The big challenge remains implementation, specifically in in communities directly affected by violent conflict. Localization is the how-to of implementation.”

The representatives of the ministries in attendance discussed the importance of the Guidelines and highlighted that the government has an important role to play in the dissemination of information and implementation of the resolutions. Moreover, representatives explained that it is important for the government to protect and promote the rights of women thus establishing ownership of the Guidelines.

Immediately following the ceremony, members of civil society, government representatives and members of GNWP met to discuss the dissemination, implementation and monitoring of the Guidelines, as well as how the government can build on the document to ensure that the pillars of UNSCR 1325 and 1820 are adhered to in DRC.

For more photos of the Launch of the Guidelines in DRC, please visit the photo gallery.

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This blog does not necessarily represent the views of the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders. Please contact the writer for questions and comments: lori.gnwp@gmail.com.

By Lori Perkovich, Project Staff, Global Network of Women Peacebuilders