Dec. 15, 2010: Statement on the Sixty-second anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Publish Date: 
Wednesday, July 25, 2012

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Statement on the Sixty-second anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

The CDJP and RPDH call the government to link the positive growth of oil revenues and better management of socio-economic rights of Congolese citizens!

Brazzaville-Pointe Noire. December 10, 2010.

Humanity is celebrating the sixty-second anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, an event that coincides with the fiftieth anniversary of the accession of Congo's sovereignty. The text adopted by the UN after the Second World War, establishes a set of rights the promotion, protection and fulfillment obligations not only to states but also for the various organizations of civil society. If the world progress has been made on civil and political rights, social economic meanwhile have not been the subject of special attention, probably because of their complexity in implementation and their strong dependence on the economic situations of countries, especially in these times of financial crisis. Article 25 of that Declaration states: "Everyone has the right to an adequate standard of living for food, clothing, shelter, medical care and necessary social services, she has the right to security in case of unemployment, sickness, disability,  widowhood, old age ... "

In Congo, if given the Justice and Peace Commission and the Engagement for Peace and Human Rights to conduct an evaluation of the implementation of socio-economic rights, several indicators are red, despite conditions in the countries currently include the increase of oil revenues with a growth rate of GDP from 12.1% in November 2010, and a massive debt relief by international financial institutions within the country program HIPCs. (1).

According to a study conducted by Justice and Peace on the "Basic Needs Basket" (PBE), between February and November 2010 on 1,000 households, an average family of six spent the sum of 165,495 FCFA only for basic food needs. (2)

This reality contrasts with the average income of Congolese staff such as teachers and health personnel (3), and contradicts the assertions of government investment in social sectors in relation to the HIPC process and the commitments contained in the Reduction Strategy Paper of poverty. The World Bank and IMF economic policies which are often decried, should ensure that these commitments are kept by the government of Congo.

Another study by the RPDH on the analysis of the 2008 budget, published last October, shows that issues of health, education, access to water and electricity have not received coverage priority, this which defaces the management of economic and social rights by the government. (4)

Despite commitments on governance, with the accession to the Transparency Initiative (EITI), the implementation of reforms in financial, oil, and the fight against corruption, the situation of socio-economic rights remains a concern for the majority of Congolese living in a context of exacerbated poverty, on less than a dollar a day; areas of oil and mining being especially affected.

As such, the CDJP and RPDH had published in 2008 a report to the UPR of the United Nations, in which the two organizations doing an assessment of the human rights situation in the oil communities. (5)

On 14 August, the Head of State speaking at the occasion of Independence Day has announced the revision of the salary scale of civil servants of the state, as well as promotions with the release of financial instruments . The CDJP and RPDH who are engaged since 2003 in advocating for better management of oil revenues, through the campaign Publish What You Pay, believe that this commitment of the Head of State is beneficial for staff. It is expected to urgent application to improve the implementation of the rights of Congolese workers.

Moreover, the CDJP and RPDH remain concerned about the weaknesses of the Congolese judicial system, totally subservient to the executive and therefore unable to help establish an effective rule of law in Congo, capable of protecting the rights of citizens.

Against this background, the CDJP and RPDH and recommend:

  • The organization of a national consultation to assess the level of poverty in the country. The reform of the pay scale of civil servants of the state should take this into account.
  • Parliamentarians to pay particular attention to this reform during this budget session. The debate on this issue will be public and transparent.
  • The recognition of social rights to promote economic as well as civil and political rights. Particular attention should be given to communities living around industrial plants and specific clauses should be included in contracts. Multinationals operating in the area should formally commit to respect the rights of communities.
  • Ensure transparency in the stabilization account and the terms of his support budget Strengthen the management of priority expenditures which suggests a revaluation of budgets for health, education, employment, access to water, access to electricity and sincerity budget execution. These investments must be audited at the end of each fiscal year.
  • Make every effort to enforce the provisions of the UDHR.

Notes:

(1). January 28, 2010 the IMF and IDA have granted debt relief of $ 1.9 billion for the Congo. The budget estimates for 2011 are 3,004,653,000,000 CFA.

(2). The basket of basic needs is a method of poverty assessment initiated by the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection in Lusaka that distinguishes the food basic needs (food), non-food basic needs (soap, rent, water, electricity), and additional needs (education, health, miscellaneous contributions). www.jctr.org.zm

(3). In Congo Brazzaville base salary of a high school teacher is 136,000 FCFA while a teacher receives FCFA 87,500. The doctor in turn receives FCFA 120,000 while the state enrolled nurse earns 84,000 CFA francs.

(4) Ratio Analysis 2008 budget released by the RPDH in October 2010.

(5). Www.cjusticepaix-tip-noire.org; www.rpdh-cg.org