Congo/ Pointe-Noire: a workshop on the enabling environment for civil society

The Rencontre pour la paix et les droits de l'homme (RPDH), headed by Christian Mounzéo, organized an information and exchange workshop on March 22 at its headquarters in arrondissement 1, Emery-Patrice-Lumumba, with representatives of civil society organizations and the local press, with a view to implementing the EU-SEE project "European Union System for an Enabling Environment".

The objectives of the project are to improve the enabling environment for civil society organizations (CSOs) by strengthening civic space and democratic indicators; to train a network of local civil society experts involved in monitoring the enabling environment; to build the capacity of local CSOs to monitor and take account of systemic and structural changes linked to the enabling environment.experts engaged in monitoring the enabling environment; to build the capacity of local CSOs to monitor and address systemic and structural changes linked to the enabling environment.

The project's objectives include adopting a joint strategy with identified CSOs to advocate for the enabling environment; initiating the phase of real-time data collection on findings related to the five principles of the enabling environment; and raising public awareness of enabling environment issues.

In response to this need, and within the framework of the European Union (EU) system for an enabling environment for civil society, the RPDH has decided to set up a national network with the ambition of detect and address changes in the enabling environment through an inclusive monitoring and early warning methodology, inspired by EU monitoring indices and tailored to country contexts.

To this end, the workshop brought together members of local civil society organizations and the local press to inform them and set up a network of local civil society experts involved in monitoring the enabling environment.

Indeed, it was an overview of the state of the civil society environment in the country, which enabled all concerned to present an overview of the current state of civil society in the country.to present an overview and update of the conditions affecting civil society players, highlighting any significant changes or evolutions.

After the various working groups set up during the workshop had reported back on their work, a number of recommendations were made with a view to future advocacy, including the adoption by the government of the law on the protection of human rights defenders; the adoption of the law on the protection of human rights defenders; the adoption of the law on the protection of human rights defenders; the adoption of the law on the protection of human rights defenders; and the adoption of the law on the protection of human rights defenders.These included the adoption by the government of a law on the protection of human rights defenders; the adoption of a law on access to public information; the adoption of a law on the financing of CSOs and associations; the strengthening of dialogue between CSOs and public authorities; and the initiation of training and capacity-building for women members of CSOs.

In short, the EU-SEE system brings together CSOs from 86 countries to monitor the enabling environment and contribute to early warning and action in favor of civil society.

The EU-SEE program is implemented by a consortium of NGOs, including Hivos, Civicus, Democracy Reporting International, European Partership for Democracy, Forus and Transparency International. The main aim of the program is to help strengthen the inclusiveness, participation, autonomy, independence and freedom of action of civil society, as well as inclusive and open dialogue with and between CSOs.

As the national chapter in training of Transparency International, RPDH is part of the EU network for an enabling environment. As such, the organization intends to deploy monitoring and internal networking activities related to an enabling environment for civil society in the Republic of Congo, with the aim of strengthening civic space and improving democratic indices.

Source: www.adiac-congo.com/