DHRF FY 2001 FUNDING REQUEST

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 008356

SIPDIS


AF/RA FOR NICOLE PEACOCK, USAID/AFR/SD/DG FOR MELISSA
ROSSER, DRL, USAID/AFR/DP, NAIROBI FOR AID


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM EAID XA CG
SUBJECT: DHRF FY 2001 FUNDING REQUEST


REF: STATE 216032



1. EMBASSY KINSHASA REQUESTS $131,100 FOR SEVEN SMALL
DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS FUND (DHRF) PROJECTS IN FY 2001,
PLUS AN ADDITIONAL $15,000 FOR UNIDENTIFIED PROJECTS,
BRINGING THE TOTAL REQUEST TO $146,100. THE LUSAKA PEACE
PROCESS, INCLUDING PLANS FOR AN INTER-CONGOLESE DIALOGUE,
HAVE BEEN UNDERWAY FOR MORE THAN A YEAR WITH SOME PROGRESS.
DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS NGOS CONTINUE TO SENSITIZE THE
POPULATION TO THESE ISSUES AND TO PUSH FOR PEACE,
RECONCILIATION, AND GOOD GOVERNANCE. AS IN THE PAST, OUR
FY2001 DHRF REQUEST PUTS A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON PROGRAMS FOR
WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF CONGO.



2. DHRF PROJECTS ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE WORK OF THE EMBASSY AND
OUR MISSION OBJECTIVES IN THE CONGO. GIVEN THE TENUOUS
POLITICAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN CONGO, DHRF PROJECTS
ARE MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAN EVER BEFORE. SUPPORTING PEACE
THROUGH THE LUSAKA PROCESS AND ENCOURAGING A DEMOCRATIC
TRANSITION THROUGH THE NATIONAL DIALOGUE ARE KEY TO THE
MISSION GOALS OF PROMOTING REGIONAL STABILITY AND DEMOCRACY.
MOREOVER, CONGO HAS EXPERIENCED SERIOUS AND EXTENSIVE HUMAN
RIGHTS VIOLATIONS DURING THE LAST FEW YEARS, VIOLATIONS WHICH
CONTINUE TODAY. EMBASSY RELIES ON THE MANY HUMAN RIGHTS
ACTIVISTS TO DOCUMENT THESE VIOLATIONS AND WORK TOWARD
IMPROVING RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE CONGO. THERE IS
ALSO A SERIOUS NEED FOR PROJECTS THAT EDUCATE THE POPULATION
WITH REGARD TO DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES. DESPITE THE MANY
RECENT CHALLENGES TO ADMINISTERING DHRF PROJECTS IN CONGO
(REPORTED SEPTEL) WE REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT GIVE EVERY
CONSIDERATION TO FUNDING 2001 PROJECTS, AS THE RECIPIENTS
PERFORM FUNCTIONS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE WORK OF THE
EMBASSY AND OUR MISSION OBJECTIVES IN THE COUNTRY.



3. PROPOSED DHRF ACTIVITIES FOR FY 2001 COMPLEMENT OTHER USG
ACTIVITIES IN THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING USAID-MANAGED GREAT
LAKES JUSTICE INITIATIVE (GLJI) FUNDS IMPLEMENTED BY IFES
(INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF ELECTION SYSTEMS) AND THE LAW
GROUP.



4. FY 2001 PROJECT PROPOSALS:



A. CENTRE D'ETUDES ET DE RECHERCHES SCIENTIFIQUES (CERES);
PRESIDENT - FLAVIEN MUPEPE. REQUEST: USD 5,000. DESCRIPTION
OF PROJECT: ORGANIZING A SEMINAR ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND CIVIC
EDUCATION AND LIBERTIES TO MAKE PEOPLE AVOID VIOLENCE. DHR
OBJECTIVE: AROUSING AWARENESS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE NEED TO
RESIST VIOLENCE.



B. COMITE "DROITS DE L'HOMME, MAINTENANT", CNONGD, CRONGD,
CALCC, AGIR POUR LA PAIX, MEDIAS POUR LA PAIX, RECIC,
ASSEMBLEES DES ABBES; PRESIDENT - ME MARIE-ANDRE MUILA
KAYEMBE. REQUEST: USD 10,000. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT: A
WORKSHOP FOR DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS ON WAYS OUT
OF THE CURRENT DEADLOCK OF THE INTERCONGOLESE DIALOGUE. DHR
OBJECTIVE: PRODUCING RESOLUTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR A
PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE CURRENT SITUATION.



C. LIGUE NATIONALE POUR LES ELECTIONS LIBRES ET TRANSPARENTES
(LINELIT); PRESIDENT - JEROME BONSO. REQUEST: USD 25,000.
DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT: CIVIC EDUCATION SEMINARS. DHR
OBJECTIVE: PROMOTING SOCIAL AWARENESS OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS
SITUATION.



D. COMITE DES OBSERVATEURS DES DROITS DE L'HOMME; PRESIDENT
-- N'SII LUANDA SHANDO. REQUEST: USD 16,100. DESCRIPTION OF
PROJECT: TRAINING 14,000 VOLUNTEERS TO DEFEND DEMOCRACY AND
HUMAN RIGHTS IN KINSHASA (VODDHO). DHR OBJECTIVE: RAISING
THE NUMBER OF HUMAN RIGHTS-AWARE PEOPLE AMONG THE POPULATION,
AND TO TRAIN A CADRE OF REPORTERS ON HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.



E. LIGUE DES FEMMES POUR UN DEVELOPPEMENT ENDOGENE DURABLE
(LFDED). REQUEST: USD 25,000. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT:
REGIONAL CONFERENCES IN FIVE CITIES THROUGHOUT THE CONGO, TO
SENSITIZE RURAL COMMUNITIES TO THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND
CHILDREN. DHR OBJECTIVE: CIVIC EDUCATION.



F. ASSOCIATION CONGOLAISE POUR LA PROTECTION DES ENFANTS,
ORPHELINS ET ABANDONNES (ACPEOA). REQUEST: USD 25,000.
DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT: SEMINARS IN KINSHASA TO TRAIN
ACTIVISTS IN THE PROTECTION AND RIGHTS OF ORPHANS AND
ABANDONED CHILDREN. DHR OBJECTIVE: CREATING AWARENESS OF THE
RIGHTS OF CHILDREN, CIVIC EDUCATION.



G. CAMPAGNE DE LA SOCIETE CIVILE POUR LA CULTURE DE LA PAIX
(CCPD); PRESIDENTS -- ME BONDO TSHIMBOMBO AND N'SII LUANDA
SHANDO. REQUEST: USD 25,000. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT:
CAMPAIGN FOR SENSITIZING THE POPULATION ON THE ROLE OF MONUC
IN ORDER TO END THE WAR IN THE DRC. DHR OBJECTIVE: CAMPAIGN
FOR SENSITIZATION AND CIVIC EDUCATION.



5. EMBASSY DOES NOT REQUEST ANY FUNDING FOR PROJECTS OVER
$25,000.

6. EMBASSY REQUESTS AN ADDITIONAL $15,000 FOR UNIDENTIFIED
PROJECTS. THIS WILL PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED FLEXIBILITY IN
CHOOSING ADDITIONAL PROJECTS.
SWING