PRELIMINARY REPORT

I. Context

In an effort to enhance the role of women from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the process of peace in their nation, in general, and to support their effective participation in the inter-Congolese Dialogue, in particular, a delegation composed of eminent African women members of the African Women Committee on Peace and Development (AWCPD) as well as members of Femmes Africa Solidarité, participated in a mission of peace and solidarity to the DRC from 16 to 23 December 2001.

This mission was organised by Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS), in collaboration with Women as Partners for Peace in Africa (WOPPA- DRC Section).
A coordinating Committee composed of representatives of 10 organisations contributed in the organisation of the mission, namely Eveil de la Femme, MAPI, Cause Commune, FONUS, ASADHO, RAF, CONAFED, UNAF, FIFADE and one representative of a public institution.

The mission was funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). UNHCR and UNESCO have also contributed to the mission. The delegation was supported by representatives of the OAU and UNIFEM.

II. Members of the Delegation

The mission was led by Her Excellency Madame Ruth Sando Perry, Former Head of State of Liberia and Vice President of the AWCPD and included:

- Madame Bineta DIOP, Executive Director of FAS, Secretary General of AWCPD;
- Madame Marie Thérèse AVEMEKA, AWCPD member, Former Minister of Integration of Women in Development in the Congo- Brazzaville;
- Madame Francisca PEREIRA, FAS member, Former Minister of Interior in Guinea Bissau;
- Madame Ramata Tambadou CAMARA, Expert Jurist, FAS member;
- Madame Yetunde TERIBA, Representative of the OAU, Women's Division;
- Madame Aminata Mbengue NDIAYE - UNIFEM Consultant, Former Minister of Women, Family and Social Affairs in Senegal

III. Objectives

The mission pursued the following objectives:

- To show the women of the DRC that the women of Africa are in solidarity with their cause and to give visibility to their initiatives relating to the peace process;

- To mobilise and support the women of the DRC to effectively participate in the ongoing peace process in encouraging women from cross-section from the country to come together to participate in the inter-Congolese dialogue;

- To sensitise the various organisations on the need to elaborate a common platform that would enhance and give visibility to women's vision in the ongoing peace process;

- To share the experiences of African women who have made significant contribution in the field of peace building, security and conflict resolution in their respective countries;

- To visit the field in order to listen to and assess the concerns and needs of the women of the DRC and to convey these issues to decision-makers on the national and international levels;

- To sensitise the various parties involved in the dialogue, including the Mediation Team, representatives of the United Nations Agencies and foreign Embassies to ensure the effective participation of women in the inter-Congolese Dialogue, and to increase their support of women's initiatives to bring about peace.

IV. Strategies

In order to realise the above objectives the mission adopted the following strategies:

- To hold consultative meetings with various women's organisations from a cross-section of society;
- To organise meetings with as many actors involved in the peace process as possible, including those from rebel controlled areas;
- To undertake field visits in order to develop a better understanding of the predicament and the impact of war on civilian populations;
- To organise press conferences and interviews with the media in order to inform the public on the mission's objectives and activities.

In Kinshasa, the delegation met with:

-The President of the DRC, His Excellency General Major Joseph KABILA;
-The Minister of Interior and the Minister of Human Rights;
-Two women, Minister of Industry and Commerce and Minister of Employment and Social Security;
-His Excellency Cardinal Frédéric Etsou Nzabi;
-Heads of the political parties;
-Leaders of civil society and representatives of the various religious groups;
-Women's associations from a cross-section of society;
-The Representative of the inter-Congolese Dialogue Facilitator;
-The special representative of the Secretary General to the UN mission to the Congo (MONUC);
-Several members of the Diplomatic Corps in Kinshasa, including the group of African -Ambassadors;
-Representatives of the various UN specialised agencies
-The delegation visited a camp for displaced persons called 'CICOTRA'.

In Goma, the delegation met with:

-Leaders of the Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie (RCD-Goma), including the group's Secretary General;
-The Chief of the Department of Social, Women's and Family Affairs of the RCD-Goma;
-Professional women members of the RCD-Goma;
-Leaders of Civil Society and representatives of various religious groups;
- Women's organisations, including representatives of organisations coming from the Bukavu province;
- Representatives of UN specialised agencies in the region

In addition, the members of the delegation visited a camp of displaced persons, the CBK hospital and the central prison; the delegation also visited some women's projects in the region.

A more detailed list of the organisations and individuals the delegation had an opportunity to meet with will be provided in the final report.

V. Achievements

This peace and solidarity mission has achieved the following:

- Offer moral support to the women and sensitise the various actors on the need to ensure the effective participation of Congolese women in the ongoing peace process, in general, and in the inter- Congolese Dialogue, in particular;
- Initiate effective dialogue which encourages hope with the highest decision makers of DRC with regard to their initiatives to bring about peace;
- Encourage the coming together of various existing women plate-forms to develop a common understanding of the conflict and a common agenda, in one hand, and their reaching out to other women's groups in another hand;
- Initiate a forum of dialogue, discussion and consultation between the Congolese women's organisations, the political parties, representatives of civil society and the religious groups from all the areas visited ;
- Promote the fruitful exchange of experiences between the members of the delegation and the Congolese women regarding the peaceful resolution of conflicts and the construction of peace, to support and enrich the women's initiatives in the peace process ;
- Reach a wide consensus regarding the effective participation of women and the mainstreaming of their agenda into the ongoing peace process, in view of the creation of a durable peace in the DRC ;
- Agree to convene a national forum of Congolese woman in order to harmonise their different platforms and adopt a common position on the contribution of women to the inter-Congolese Dialogue;
- Generate the support of the United Nations agencies, various partners as well as the international community in pursuing the women's objectives;
- Benefit from media coverage, TV, Radio, Newspapers, on the national and regional levels.

Through its mission of peace and solidarity, the delegation was successful in revitalising the women's commitment to peace and generating a new dynamic in the peace process.

VI. Constraints

Time constraints prevented the delegation from making additional visits to areas that were included on the original agenda. The delegation has proposed to return to the DRC in the near future in order to complete, and expand upon the work it has already done.

Some women's organisations stressed their concerns about the lack of economic development projects in the country; after discussion of these points it was recognised that, although the issues were pertinent and timely, these projects could only be realised during the reconstruction phase in DRC.

VII. Appeal

The field visits in Goma and Kinshasa allowed the delegation to develop a greater understanding of the harmful effects of the conflict on the civilian population, in particular it effect on the well being of the country's most vulnerable groups: children, women and the elderly. In light of these deteriorating conditions, the mission launch an appeal to the relevant authorities, as well as the international community:

- To provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable groups;

- To consider all possible strategies for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in the DRC, in particular, and the Great Lakes region, in general;

Recommendations

In light of its encounters, meetings, visits and discussions, the peace and solidarity mission has made the following recommendations:

- To follow-up the peace and solidarity mission in the DRC, as well as in neighbouring countries, in order to ensure the continuation of the dynamic momentum created thus far;

- To accompany the congolese women in their peace process and in the re-building of their nation, in general, in supporting their various initiatives undertaken before, during and after the inter-Congolese Dialogue;

- To build the capacity of women so that they may effectively participate in the peace process (e.g. provide the women with technical assistance and training programs to develop leadership, advocacy and negotiation skills, etc.);

- To advocate at the national, regional, sub-regional and international levels for support to the DRC peace process, in general, and the participation of women in the inter-Congolese dialogue, in particular;

- To create opportunities in which the Congolese women can come together, to work in synergy through a national structure, to be developed and promoted;

- To organise meetings of Congolese women, in order to co-ordinate and harmonise their various agendas that take into consideration the needs and concerns of all Congolese women and encourage so that they develop a common platform;

- To promote the coalition building of women's associations in order to ensure their effective participation in peace initiatives in the DRC and the Great Lakes region;

- To strengthen the women's networks for peace and expand these structures at regional and international levels in order to mobilise women and create more solidarity among them;

- To pursue the sensitisation of the leaders of the region on the need to resolve the conflicts peacefully and for a durable peace for the Great Lakes region;

- To mobilise resources from various partners in support of the Congolese women's initiatives and ensure improved co-ordination in order to avoid duplications, maximise their efforts and give them more visibility;

- To create partnership with the African Women Committee for Peace and Development as well as Femmes Africa Solidarité for the implementation of the Congolese women peace agenda.

The organisers of the mission agreed to follow-up the above recommendations and distribute a final report to all concerned parties, including the partners who have made this mission possible.

The mission extends its sincere appreciation to all of the various parties involved in the inter-Congolese Dialogue, including the Government of the DRC, the political parties, the civil society, and, in particular, the women of the DRC as well as the international community for their support and co-operation.