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Human Rights and Natural Resource Training in Lubumbashi

During the month of August 2011 RAID ran a human rights and natural resources training programme in Lubumbashi for NGOs from different provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The three-week intensive programme was funded by the Open Society Institute for Southern Africa (OSISA). RAID's Congolese partners, Southern Africa Revenue Watch (SARW) and Action Contre l'Impunite pour les Droits Humains (ACIDH,) provided facilitators and expert speakers.

The programme took place in the Centre de Retraite, "Les Buissonets", in the Tabac quarter of Lubumbashi. The twenty-nine participants were introduced to international human rights instruments and the Congolese legal framework including the Mining Code and Forest Code. A central focus of the programme was on research methods and the participants undertook field work in selected mining sites in Katanga. Speakers included Alexis Mikanji, the head of the Centre d'évaluation d'expertise et de certification des substances minérales précieuses et semi-précieuses (Ceec, Congo's Regulatory Mining Body); Jean Pierre Muteba, a civil society representative on the Executive Committee of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI;) Maitre Georges Kapiamba, the Deputy Director of ASADHO and a leading human rights lawyer; Maitre Marc Walu of MONUSCO's human rights division; and Professor Arthur Kaniki, an environmental expert at the University of Lubumbashi. The final part of the programme was devoted to advocacy. At the end of the programme the participants presented their research findings, which will be published on OSISA's website.

Lively Debate in Katanga About Chinese Companies in Katanga

RAID’s latest report ‘Chinese Mining Companies in Katanga’ was the subject of a lively radio discussion on Radio Okapi (the local UN-run radio station) on 8 October 2009. Jean Pierre Okenda, a member of RAID’s research team, participated in a debate with H. E. Ferdinand Kambere , the Congolese Minister of Labour and Social Welfare ( l’emploi et prévoyance sociale) and the Vice President of the Employers Federation of Katanga. The Minister congratulated RAID on its report. The debate can be heard on: http://www.radiookapi.net/files/audio_file_17951.mp3

See also: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article6871943.ece

And; African Mining Intelligence, 14/10/09: RAID Singles Out Chinese Firms for Criticismhttp://www.africaintelligence.com/C/modules/login/DetailArt/ LoginDetailArt.asp?rub=login&lang=ang&service=ART&context=HIS&doc_i_id=71540545

And: China Labour Net 'Survey Confirms Widespread Abuse by Chinese Mining Companies in the Congo': available at: http://www.worldlabour.org/eng/node/259

Gecamines' Botched Redundancy Scheme Subject of a Complaint to the World Bank's Inspection Panel

The Inspection Panel is investigating claims by former Gecamines' staff, who were made redundant in 2003- 2004 under the Departs Volontaires Programme that the World Bank had contravened Congolese Labour laws and deprived them of their entitlements to back pay and other benefits. The Requesters, former miners from the district of Likasi in Katanga, further allege that the economic reintegration programme was poorly conceived, limited and ineffectual. As a result their standard of living has sharply declined and they have been left impoverished; their family units have been destroyed; there have been negative impacts on their children with young girls slipping into prostitution and juvenile deliquency among boys; school enrollment rates have fallen; famine and malnutrition is widespread because most families can only afford to eat one meal a day; there has also been an increase in morbidity and mortality rates due to the withdrawal of the medical care formally provided by Gecamines.

See http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTINSPECTIONPANEL/0,,contentMDK:22100547~menuPK:64129250~pagePK:64129751~piPK:64128378~theSitePK:380794~isCURL:Y,00.html

Access to Justice and Natural Resources in the Congo

On 21st September 2009, RAID’s Director, Patricia Feeney, was a speaker at an event on business and human rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo, held by the IBA and International Legal Assistance Consortium (ILAC). The event followed the release of a report, Rebuilding courts and trust, in August 2009. The debate explored the exploitation of natural resources, incidences of sexual violence, and the needs and failings of the justice system. With more than 80 participants, from NGOs, governments and private firms, the evening explored some difficult and poignant questions on the troubled state. You can listen to or watch Patricia Feeney’s contribution at:

http://www.ibanet.org/Human_Rights_Institute/Work_by_regions/Africa/Debate_DRC.aspx

RAID Event April 2008