HR-Drc(global governance impacts)

Question 1

Where is the DRC located?

Answer 1

The DRC is located in sub-Saharan Africa, north of Angola and Zambia and has a small coastline which connects with the Atlantic ocean

Question 2

What are the human rights issues in the DCR?

Answer 2

1-Civilian loss of life, disappearances, torture, rape
2-People displaced from their homes (IDPs) and refugees
3-Limited access to healthcare and education
4-High rates of maternal and infant mortality
5-Food security: high incidence of malnutrition
6-Child recruitment by military groups
7-People trafficking
8-Forced labour
9-Domestic violence
10-Limited land and property rights for women

Question 3

What are the global governance strategies?

Answer 3

1-UN stabilisation mission (MONUSCO) has replaced the peacekeeping mission(MONUC)
-This intervention aims to protect civilians, humanitarian personnel and human rights defenders under imminent threat or physical violence
2-New president since 2019 has made positive changes by creating a coalition government
-Aims include to improvements in governance, economic development, safety and access to healthcare, sanitation and education
3-UN agencies to cooperate with with the Congolese government to achieve stabilisation and development in the DRC
-E.g. OHCHR (Human rights issues, especially in the east) UNICEF (Providing primary education) and WHO (responding to Ebola and Measles outbreaks)
4-Many NGOs operate in the current areas of conflict
-E.g. CARE (Reduce mortality, strengthen local government, improve gender inequality/food security) Action Aid (Improve community resilience, providing agricultural tools, seeds and training to promote self sufficiency)

Question 4

What are the opportunities for stability?

Answer 4

-UN mission helps to improve political stability by preventing recurrence of major conflict and promoting unification of the country
-In January 2019 the election of a new president was the first peaceful transfer of power in the country’s history
-The UN, National government and NGOs aim to cooperate and coordinate their response to high incidence of human rights violations
-The UN and African union have established peace and security and human rights treaties available for the government to sign and ratify

Question 5

What are the opportunities for Growth?

Answer 5

-DRC has the potential to become one of the richest economies in Africa and mineral resources include gold, diamonds, tin, uranium, oil, copper, cobalt (used in smartphone batteries
-Increased demand for copper and cobalt has driven recent economic growth (3.9% 2020)
-DRC participates in the EITI; this requires publication of revenues, improved governmental management of the mining sector attracting FDI
-The UN stabilising mission has enabled a wider range of services provision to help stimulate local economies
-NGOs are promoting economic growth at local scale through training and employment in agriculture and development of grassroots women’s organisations

Question 6

What are the opportunities for Development?

Answer 6

-The DRCs HDI has improved only slowly; by 2018 it was 0.459-global rank 179th
-The UN and civil society organisations are implementing the 17 SDGs within the 2030 agenda for sustainable development
-The world bank group aims to fight poverty and improve standards of living
-Including equal access to education for all school age children
-Promoting behavioural change towards gender equality; supporting victims of violence
-Supporting micro, small and medium sized enterprises, increasing employment opportunities

Question 7

What are the challenges for Inequality?

Answer 7

-Many women and young girls are subject to domestic violence
-Many women and young girls are subject to sex trafficking and forced labour
-Improving levels of female participation in government and decision making from national and local scale
-Many young children are forcibly recruited as child soldiers
-Limited access to healthcare and education throughout the country
-High IMR (68.2/100,000 live births) and MMR (473/100,000 live births)

Question 8

What are the challenges for injustice?

Answer 8

-Government needs to strengthen the rule of law, ensure elections are democratic, support an independent and effective judiciary, reduce levels of poverty, preserve rights of IDPs and returning refugees, ensure justice for victims of gender inequality, people trafficking and forced labour
-Vulnerable urban street children, orphaned or separated from their families need protection
-The DRC state apparatus needs strengthening
-74% of the population live in extreme poverty on less than $1.90 per day; many are driven into artisanal mining with dangerous working conditions and exploitation by traders offering unfair prices