Assemblée Nationale RDC: Résolution Pour Maintien CNDH Statut A

• The National Assembly of the DRC adopted a resolution on September 23 to support maintaining the 'A' international status of the CNDH.
• This action follows a recommendation from the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions to downgrade the CNDH to 'B' status due to non-compliance with the Paris Principles.
• CNDH President Paul Nsapu confirmed the downgrade is not yet effective and the commission has an appeal period to demonstrate its independence and proper functioning.
• Nsapu cited financial constraints hindering human rights monitoring and investigations, requesting parliamentary support for increased resources.
• Parliament has urged the government to provide more financial and material aid to the CNDH and called on the commission to improve its governance to preserve its accreditation.

The proposed `rétrogradation CNDH statut B` stems from concerns regarding the institution's strict adherence to the internationally recognized `Principes de Paris CNDH RDC`.

On September 23, in Kinshasa, the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC) took a significant step by adopting a resolution aimed at preserving the 'A' international accreditation status of the country's National Human Rights Commission (CNDH). This legislative intervention comes in response to a recommendation from the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), which had suggested a potential downgrade of the CNDH to 'B' status. The proposed `rétrogradation CNDH statut B` stems from concerns regarding the institution's strict adherence to the internationally recognized `Principes de Paris CNDH RDC`.

The president of the `Commission nationale droits de l’homme RDC`, `Paul Nsapu CNDH`, addressed national deputies, clarifying that the recommendation for a downgrade has not yet been formally implemented. He informed the `Assemblée nationale RDC` that the CNDH has been granted a grace period, during which it must demonstrate its compliance with international standards concerning its operational independence and overall functioning. This period is crucial for the CNDH to reaffirm its commitment to its mandate and avoid the loss of its highest accreditation level.

During his appearance before the parliamentary body, `Paul Nsapu` detailed several significant challenges impeding the `Commission nationale droits de l’homme RDC`'s effectiveness. He specifically highlighted persistent financial constraints as a major impediment. These budgetary limitations directly hinder the CNDH's capacity to adequately monitor human rights violations across the country, conduct thorough and independent investigations into reported incidents, and expand its institutional presence and activities into various provinces.

In light of these operational difficulties, `Paul Nsapu` formally requested the Parliament's robust support to enhance the CNDH's resources. He underscored the necessity of increased funding and logistical assistance to enable the commission to fulfill its critical mandate more effectively. Nsapu also referenced the CNDH's ongoing work, including the documentation efforts related to the C64 coalition march that took place on June 12 in Kinshasa, confirming that investigations into the events of that day are still in progress.

Following extensive deliberations, the lower house of the Parliament issued clear directives aimed at strengthening the `Commission nationale droits de l’homme RDC` and ensuring its continued international standing. The `Assemblée nationale RDC` formally requested that the Government provide substantial financial and material support to the CNDH, recognizing the critical need for enhanced resources to address the challenges outlined by `Paul Nsapu`. This parliamentary directive underscores the legislative commitment to the `maintien` of the CNDH's 'A' status.

Furthermore, the Parliament urged the `Commission nationale droits de l’homme RDC` itself to undertake significant improvements in its internal governance. This call for better governance is directly linked to the imperative of preserving the CNDH's international accreditation, which is contingent upon strict adherence to the `Principes de Paris CNDH RDC`. The collective effort from both the government and the CNDH is essential to avert the recommended `rétrogradation CNDH statut B` and uphold the credibility of human rights monitoring in the DRC.

Lawyers should monitor the CNDH's efforts to maintain its 'A' status and improve governance, as its international accreditation directly impacts the credibility and weight of human rights reports and investigations in the DRC, which can be crucial for legal arguments or compliance advice related to human rights issues.

Source: Original reporting via the provided source.