 Mr. Ezéchiel Amani lors d'une session de partage d'expérience avec la délégation de Seychelles Du 11 au 13 novembre 2014, Initiatives pour la Paix et les Droits Humains (IPDH) a participé par l’intermédiaire de monsieur Ezéchiel Amani, directeur national d’IPDH en République Démocratique du Congo, a un séminaire atelier de renforcement des capacités dans le cadre de la présentation des rapports étatiques au titre du Protocole à la Charte Africaine des Droits de l’Homme et des Peuples relatifs aux droits des femmes en Afrique organisé à Prétoria en Afrique du Sud par le Center for Human Rights de l’Université de Pretoria, et la Commissaire Soyata Maiga, Rapporteuse Spéciale sur les Droits de la Femme en Afrique de la Commission Africaine des Droits de l’Homme et des Peuples. Dans l’ensemble, des délégués de haut niveau comprenant aussi bien les membres des gouvernements que les représentants d’ONG de droits de l’homme de la Tanzanie, de Seychelles, du Zimbabwe et de la RDC ont été invités. Ces délégations, regroupées par pays, ont rédigé des rapports étatiques, conformément aux directives en la matière, qu’elles ont présentés devant la CADHP instituée pour le besoin de la cause. Chaque pays a joué tantôt le rôle de la commission, tantôt celui de l’Etat partie présentateur du rapport et l’exercice était très instructif.  Mr. Ezéchiel Amani au milieu de deux autres participants en train de suivre attentivement une présentation Lors de ce séminaire, les principes directeurs du procédé des rapports d’États sur le Protocole à la Charte Africaine des Droits de l’Homme et des Peuples relatif aux Droits de la Femme en Afrique adoptés en 2009 par la CADHP ont été diffusés et réexaminés, afin de permettre aux participants de s’y familiariser et de faire tout le nécessaire pour que les États puissent honorer leurs obligations en vertu du Protocole. Le séminaire a également abordé le rôle de la société civile dans ce processus.
Entre autres, les matières ci-après ont été étudiées : (i) Introduction à la charte africaine des droits de l’homme et des peuples et au système africain de protection des droits de l’homme ; (ii) Le protocole à la Charte Africaine des Droits de l’Homme et des Peuples relatif aux droits des femmes en Afrique ; (iii) Les droits de la femme en Afrique : vue d’ensemble des progrès et des défis ; (iv) Etats de rapports étatiques par pays devant les organes des Traités (Nations Unies) et à la CADHP ; (v) Les lignes directrices pour la soumission des rapports étatiques sur le protocole à la Charte Africaine des droits de l’Homme et des peuples relatif aux droits des femmes en Afrique ; (vi) Le rôle de la Société civile et des institutions nationales des droits de l’homme dans la préparation des rapports étatiques ; (vi) La préparation d’un rapport étatique : l’expérience sud-africaine. Il convient de rappeler que la présentation des rapports étatiques est une composante fondamentale du suivi de la mise en oeuvre du Protocole à la Charte Africaine des Droits de l’Homme et des Peuples relatif aux Droits de la Femme en Afrique (ci-après, le Protocole). L’article 26 de ce Protocole lu conjointement avec l’article 62 de la Charte oblige les États membres à incorporer dans leurs rapports périodiques présentés à la Commission Africaine des Droits de l’Homme et des Peuples (ci-après, la CADHP), des indications sur les mesures législatives ou autres qu’ils ont prises pour la pleine réalisation des droits consacrés. Les rapports des États servent un certain nombre d’importantes fonctions, notamment : l’inventaire des mesures prises par les États parties en conformité avec les obligations découlant du Protocole ; l’identification des problèmes et des obstacles à la mise en œuvre complète du Protocole ainsi que l’opportunité d’un engagement constructif avec la CADHP pour que les États parties puissent bénéficier de recommandations concrètes.
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For the second time in a row, Initiatives for Peace and Human Rights (IPHR) in partnership with Comité pour le Concours Grands Lacs (CCGL) has organized a training on international humanitarian law and human rights for university students and lecturers of Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. During this competition two students representing respectively each university confronted their knowledge in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights around the theme: « Sexual Violence in period of armed conflict: What responses from the International Humanitarian law and Human Rights? ». In final, Universite Libre des Pays des Grands Lacs based in Goma (DR Congo) won the competition after a tough pleading battle against Universite Lumiere de Bujumbura – Kinindo Campus.  Group photo of all participants in the opening ceremony - (c) IPHR-IPDH In total, fourteen (14) universities, namely University of Burundi, Université Lumière de Bujumbura (Kinindo Campus), Université Lumière de Bujumbura (Mutanga Campus), Université du Lac Tanganyika, Université des Grands Lacs, Université Libre des Pays des Grands Lacs, Université d’Uvira et des Grands Lacs, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Université Officielle de Bukavu, Université de Kisangani, Université de Kinshasa, University of Rwanda, Kigali Independent University (ULK – Kigali Campus) and Kigali Independent University (ULK – Gisenyi Campus) have participated in an intensive three-month training which is completed by a moot court competition in Kigali on 26 – 30 May 2014 in the buildings of Kigali Independent University (ULK-Gisozi).
The organisation of this training/competition is itself a very big contribution in the efforts to enhance peace in the Great Lakes region, torn by multiple armed conflicts sine 90s, since it has not only equipped law lecturers and students with necessary knowledge to face the unfortunate legacy of these armed conflicts but also it has evidenced that academics from this region can work together for a noble cause. Furthermore this competition has also offered to students an opportunity of exposure and competitiveness at the international level. It is in this framework that, for instance, the two winners of the first edition (2013) were automatically admitted and offered a scholarship of about fifteen thousand American dollars each to pursue an advanced masters programme in international humanitarian law and human rights at the world-renowned Academy of the International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights of Geneva in the Switzerland. The automatic admission of these students in this world-class university, which receives an annual average of one thousand applications from all over the world for only forty available positions, as a consequence of their outstanding performance during the competition is a clear acknowledgment of the rigor and high level of this event. This competition is now organized on an annual basis in rotation between these three countries where IPHR is already legally operating. Accordingly, the third edition will be held in Bujumbura (Republic of Burundi) on 11 - 15 May 2015. The second edition was funded by the City of Geneva and the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs with a logistical support from the International Committee of the Red Cross and Kigali Independent University (ULK).  Initiatives for Peace and Human Rights – Initiatives pour la Paix et les Droits Humains (IPHR-IPDH) poursuit la consolidation de son implantation dans la région des Grands Lacs pour le renforcement de la culture de la paix à travers l’éducation aux droits humains et à la bonne gouvernance. C’est dans cet ordre que la personnalité juridique a été conférée à IPDH-Burundi et IPDH-RDC respectivement par l’Ordonnance du Ministère de l’intérieur No 530/333 du 03 mars 2014 et l’Arrêté du Ministre de la justice et des droits humains No 160/CAB/MIN/J&DH/2014. Pendant des longs mois que la procédure d’octroi de la personnalité juridique a pris pour aboutir à ces deux actes, IPDH n’a jamais tenté d’abdiquer à mener tant bien que mal ses activités dans ces deux pays. Ses activités ont été alors menées sur base des autorisations provisoires émises par des autorités compétentes. Il va de soi que ces deux actes ministériels sont d’une importance capitale dans la mesure où ils reconnaissent à IPDH d’être titulaire des droits et des obligations, en tant qu’organisation, dans chacun de ces pays. Dans ce sens, IPDH-IPHR attend une implication accrue des partenaires locaux, régionaux et internationaux dans la mise en œuvre de ses actions de renforcement de capacité des populations et autorités locales (à travers des sessions de formation), de recherche ainsi que de plaidoyer sur les droits humains et la bonne gouvernance dans la régions des Grands Lacs, sans oublier la facilitation de l’accès à la justice aux personnes démunies.  Vendeuses de denrées alimentaires le long d’une rue à Goma (RDC) – © IPDH 2014 Dans les années à venir, IPHR-IPDH attend se focaliser davantage sur la promotion et la protection des droits économiques et sociaux pour le mieux être des individus et communautés vivant dans cette région des grands lacs.
Par ailleurs, IPHR-IPDH est consciente que la région des Grands Lacs ne vit pas retranchée du monde. De ce fait, quand bien même la paix et la stabilisation de cette région sont la responsabilité première de ses filles et fils, elle (la région des grands lacs) reste aussi tributaire de la contribution de la communauté internationale dans son ensemble.C’est dans cette optique que la création de Stichting Initiatives for Peace and Human Rights (SIPHR) a été légalisée dans la ville d’Utrecht au Royaume des Pays-Bas en date du 28 avril 2014 dans le but primaire de lever des fonds pour financer les activités d’ONG locales basées dans la région des grands lacs africains dans leur travail d’éducation aux droits humains et à la bonne gouvernance. Plus spécifiquement, les fonds levés par SIPHR seront destines à financer les projets visant (1) la promotion et protection des droits humains incluant entre autres l’accès gratuit à la justice aux personnes et groupes vulnérables tels que les femmes, les enfants, les personnes vivant avec handicap, les LGBT, les personnes vivant avec le VIH/SIDA, etc. (2) la reconstruction de la paix et la réconciliation, (3) le renforcement de la bonne gouvernance et de l’Etat de droit et (4) l’encouragement du réseautage entre les organisations poursuivant les objectifs ci-haut mentionnes. Il est anticipé au sein de la famille IPDH que le travail en synergie entre les sections nationales du Burundi, de la RD Congo et du Rwanda et SIPHR des Pays-Bas va impacter de façon durable la vie des hommes, femmes, enfants, jeunes et vieux de cette région du monde longtemps meurtrie par des conflits armés cycliques, d’une faiblesse avérée des institutions et des violations récurrentes des droits fondamentaux.  Initiatives for Peace and Human Rights (IPHR) continues to strengthen its presence in the Great Lakes region in order to enhance the culture of peace through human rights and good governance education. It is in this framework that legal personality has been conferred to IPHR-Burundi and IPHR-DRC by respectively the Ordinance of the Ministry of Interior No.530/333 of 3 March 2014 and the Decree of the Minister of Justice and human rights No.160/CAB/MIN/J&DH/2014. During the long months that the procedure for granting legal personality took, IPHR never abandoned to pursue its mission in these two countries. IPHR’s activities were then conducted on the basis of provisional authorizations issued by the competent authorities. It goes without saying that these two ministerial acts are of paramount importance since they recognize IPHR to hold rights and obligations, as an organization, in each of these countries. It follows that IPHR-IPDH expects greater involvement of local, regional and international partners in the implementation of its actions in relation with building the capacity of individuals, communities and local authorities (through training), researching, and advocating for human rights and good governance in the Great Lakes region, not to mention facilitating access to justice for the poor.  In the coming years, IPHR intends to focus more on the promotion and protection of economic and social rights for the well-being of individuals and communities living in the Great Lakes region.
Moreover, IPHR is aware that the Great Lakes does not live cut off from the world. Therefore, even though the peace and stability of this region are the primary responsibility of its daughters and son, the Great Lakes region also remains dependent on the contribution of the international community as a whole. It is in this context that the creation of Stichting Initiatives for Peace and Human Rights (SIPHR) was legalized in the city of Utrecht in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, on 28 April 2014 with the primary purpose of raising funds to finance activities of local NGOs based in the African Great lakes in their work of education on human rights and good governance. More specifically, the funds raised by SIPHR are intended to finance projects aiming at (1) the promotion and protection of human rights including, among others, free access to justice for vulnerable individuals and groups such as women, children, people living with disability, LGBT, people living with HIV/AIDS, etc., (2) the enhancement of peace-building and reconciliation, (3) the strengthening of good governance and the rule of law, and (4) the promotion of networking among organizations pursuing the objectives mentioned above . It is strongly believed within IPHR family that the synergy between the national organizations of Burundi, DR Congo and Rwanda and SIPHR in Netherlands will impact in a sustainable way on the lives of men, women, children, youth and old in this region long scarred by cyclic armed conflicts, dramatically weak institutions and recurring human rights violations. Peace-building and reconciliation is one of the four key pillars on which IPHR’s activities are conducted. In this regard, IPHR works in perfect symbiosis with national, regional and international actors including the United Nations. As far as the UN is concerned, the last statutory objective of IPHR is to contribute to the UN’s activities in the domain of peacekeeping and human rights promotion. It is therefore in this line that Mr Raymond Ndamage, IPHR's Secretary General, has recently participated on behalf of IPHR in a three-day high level workshop organized by African Civilian Response Capacity for Peace Support Operations (AFEDEM) in partnership with the UN Department of Field Support in Pretoria on 4-6 November 2013 in Pretoria (South Africa).  Mr Raymond Ndamage, IPHR's Secretary General (3rd left on the last row) with other participants Titled the '1st Inter-regional Outreach Workshop for Africa: Reaching out and attracting civilian talent within Africa, for United Nations Peace Operations worldwide', this regional workshop had the overarching strategic objective to foster relations between the UN Department of Field Support who populate and manage civilian rosters for all political, peace and security operations worldwide, and key regional organizations, civil society organizations, research centres, think tanks, etc. The workshop sought to develop knowledge-based linkages and initiatives in terms of what political, peace and security field operations are looking for in their future workforce and how the UN Department of Field Support can target highly skilled African Nationals for their field rosters from which they recruit. The workshop fostered closer working relationships with key stakeholders on the continent to allow for future collaboration on how to target and attract highly talented and skilled African civilian personnel into field mission rosters, potentially creating a new wave of African workforce amongst the civilian field family. In particular, specialized discussions on how to target and attract African women for leadership roles were held. This platform was also used for the sensitization and stirring interest from the civilian community to actively get involved in field missions. The participation of Mr Raymond Ndamage in this workshop has been an opportunity for IPHR to build its staff’s capacity and to strengthen its networking ties especially in Southern Africa. This workshop came few weeks after Mr Yves Sezirahiga, head of Human Right and Access to Justice Unit, participated in another regional workshop (on reproductive health) held in Nairobi last August. IPHR President recognized one of the World's Top 99 Most Influential Leaders in Foreign Policy10/9/2013  Mr Elvis Mbembe Binda, President and Co-founder of IPHR Elvis Mbembe Binda, IPHR's president and co-founder, has just appeared on the 2013 "99 Under 33" list published this afternoon by the US Magazine Diplomatic Courier as one of the World's Top 99 most Influential Leaders in Foreign Policy Under the age of 33. “99 Under 33” is an international list jointly launched by Diplomatic Courier and Young Professional in Foreign Policy in 2011 to capture the extraordinary impact on international affairs of 99 diverse Millennials under the age of 33. Several hundred people were nominated this year by last year’s 99 Under 33 honorees, ambassadors, business leaders, and scholars. Only 99 were selected after a rigorous three-step process by the Selection Committee.
The list and individuals profiles of the Top 99 Under 33 offer insight into creativity, determination, and passion of the young people like Elvis Mbembe who are already tackling and solving the world’s critical global challenges. This year only four Africans appeared on the list of which most of the nominees are americans. Other African nominees are from Ghana, Kenya and Liberia. By design, this list is broad and diverse, encompassing entrepreneurs, technologists, journalists, bankers, activists, and scientists—as well as diplomats and other government officials. This reflects the belief that foreign policy in the 21st Century is made by leaders from all sectors. The "99 Under 33" recognizes the distinctive impact each of the honorees has on his or her community today and their promise of potential as leader in the future. Everyone on the list is quite different, but every single person was chosen for specific reasons. Each of the honorees has been mapped to one of the seven leadership archetypes that define the "99 Under 33", even though many of them exhibit most of these qualities in some facet of their work: - A Catalyst is from a field not typically associated with foreign policy who has had an impact on international affairs. - A Convener brings people together in creative ways to address a pressing international issue or enhance the foreign policy community. - An Influencer mobilizes people in the foreign policy community with bold new ideas. - An Innovator designs a new solution to a critical global challenge. - A Practitioner changes foreign policy from the inside through extraordinary professionalism and skill. - A Risk-taker takes a chance and sees it pay off. - A Shaper changes the public discourse on an aspect of foreign policy or raises awareness on a critical issue. “As a Catalyst, Elvis works tirelessly to uphold respect of human rights, good governance and rule of law in the Great Lakes of Africa. Elvis emphasizes the power of human rights and good governance education for sustainable peace in the region and he shares this approach with university students.” highlights Ana C. Rold, Editor-in-Chief, Diplomatic Courier. This nomination is a recognition of modest efforts that IPHR is doing to contribute in peace building in the Great Lakes region. For instance, in May this year IPHR organized a regional moot court competition in partnership with a Switzerland-based NGO (Comite pour le Concours Grands Lacs) on international humanitarian law and human rights that brought to Kigali law students and teachers from fourteen (14) universities of Burundi, DR Congo and Rwanda. Two students (from the University of Kinshasa in DRC) who won the competition were automatically admitted to pursue a Master’s programme (LL.M) in Advanced Studies of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights at the Geneva Academy in Switzerland with full scholarship. Like other honorees, Elvis has been invited to the official reception that will be held in Washington, DC at the National Press Club on October 9th, 2013.  On 20-22 August 2013 Mr Yves Sezirahiga, the head of Human Rights and Access to Justice unit of IPHR, participated in a regional workshop on "Abortion, Reproductive Rights and the Role of Lawyers" that was organized in Nairobi by Ipas. This training brought together lawyers working in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Nigeria, Zambia and Rwanda who are well versed in reproductive rights and committed to promoting access to safe abortion.
The objectives of the workshop were: (1) to share their work promoting reproductive rights and access to safe abortion and learn from others, (2) to build capacity in promoting abortion rights through constitutional reform, improving access to medication abortion, law reform, working with law enforcement, and communications, and (3) to cultivate relationships among lawyers working on abortion in the region. Like many african countries, Rwanda has recently introduced restrictive provisions related to abortion in the Penal Code. According to article 165 of new Penal Code (2012) of Rwanda, abortion can be accepted only in case of rape, incest, forced marriage or when the continuation of pregnancy endangers the mother's life. Apart from the last case, in the three other circumstances abortion can only be authorized by a court. This really threatens the reproductive rights of women and girls in Rwanda. During the training, Mr Yves did a presentation where he raised the issue caused by the criminalization of abortion under Rwandan law. He recalled Rwanda's international obligations especially regarding Maputo Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People's Rights on the Rights of women in Africa in its article 14(a) and (c) enjoining State parties to "insure that the right to health of women, including sexual and reproductive health is respected and promoted. This includes: a) the right to control their fertility [...] and c) the right to choose any method of contraception". IPHR is strongly advocating for the promotion of reproductive rights for all Rwandan women. This workshop was part of our regional networking and efforts to equip IPHR staff with necessary knowledge and skills to better promote women's rights. A project to raise the awareness of the Rwandan judiciary (judges, prosecutors, police, and lawyers) about women's reproductive rights is underway in a perspective of promoting access to safe abortion.  Initiatives for Peace and Human Rights (IPHR) has just been given a go-ahead from the department of Justice of the South Kivu Province to operate countrywide in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This authorization has been long overdue. IPHR Headquarters are located in Bukavu. Before this authorization, IPHR was active in the Eastern DRC carrying out activities especially in North Kivu province with its partners such as Ligue Congolaise pour la Promotion des droits des Personnes Vulnerables et/ou Marginalisees (LiCoProMa). This authorization is a milestone in the achievement of IPHR's vision to cover in medium-term three countries of the Great Lakes region that are Rwanda, DR Congo and Burundi. More details about our action plan for the DR Congo will follow soon.
For questions or information, please address an email to Mr Ezechiel Amani Cirimwami, the Vice-President of IPHR-DR Congo at ezechiel.amani@iphr-ipdh.org.  Elvis Mbembe, president of IPHR, with the competition winners The winners of the first francophone regional moot court competition on international humanitarian law and human rights held in Kigali from 28-30 May 2013, miss Thesée-Aurore Mabaka and Mr Jean Jacques Tshiamala from the University of Kinshasa, have obtained an ex-officio admission to the Master’s program of advanced studies in international humanitarian law and Human Rights of the Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights in Geneva (ADH) for the academic year 2014-2015 thanks to a very good collaboration between the Comité pour le Concours Grands Lacs (CCGL) and ADH.
This admission granted by the Director of ADH, Ms. Paola Gaeta, which includes a tuition scholarship of 15,000 Swiss francs (approximately U.S. $ 15,775) and a promise of grant to cover the cost of living in Geneva is not only an award for the outstanding performance of the winners but also a recognition of the quality and seriousness of the competition which wants to become an annual academic event in the African Great Lakes. Indeed, from 28 to 30 May 2013, twenty-eight (28) students from public and private universities of Burundi, DRC and Rwanda shared their knowledge and arguments around a fictional case incorporating various violations of international humanitarian law and human rights that the Great Lakes region faces since the 90s. The competition was organized by the Committee for the Great Lakes Competition (Swiss-based NGO) in partnership with Initiatives for Peace and Human Rights (NGO based in Rwanda) through financial support of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, the City of Geneva and the Paul Reuter Fund and logistical support of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Université Libre de Kigali (ULK). Preparations for the next edition are already underway. Regional Francophone Moot Court Competition in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights6/6/2013  The winning team of the competition On 28-30 May 2013 in Kigali (at ULK Gisozi) was held a moot court competition in international humanitarian law and human rights. Twenty-eight (28) students from University of Burundi, Université Lumière de Bujumbura (Mutanga Burundi), Université Lumière de Bujumbura (Kinindo - Burundi), Université du Lac Tanganyika (Burundi), Université de Kinshasa (DRC), Université de Kisangani (DRC), Université de Goma (DRC), Université Libre des Pays des Grands Lacs (DRC), Université Officielle de Bukavu (DRC), Université Catholique de Bukavu (DRC), Université Nationale du Rwanda (Rwanda), Université Libre de Kigali (Kigali - Rwanda), Université Libre de Kigali (Gisenyi - Rwanda) and Institut d’Enseignement Supérieur de Ruhengeri (Rwanda) measured their knowledge of national, regional and international instruments on international humanitarian law and human rights in dealing with a fictional case incorporating various violations that the Great Lakes region suffers from since the 90s. The final opposed the University of Kinshasa to the Official University of Bukavu. The University of Kinshasa won the first prize. The competition was held in French.
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