While the European Union (EU) and its Member States state in their renewed strategy for the Great Lakes that "the security, stability and prosperity of the countries of the Great Lakes region remain a strategic priority for the EU", 17 European civil society organisations and platforms, including EurAc, are expressing their deep concern at the escalation of violence and the worsening humanitarian situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). They also question the inconsistent response of the EU and its Member States in the region.
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Democracy & Human Rights
Political participation and the protection and civil and political rights and freedoms in the Great Lakes region face many political and security obstacles and tensions, particularly around the electoral cycles.
EurAc develops its expertise and conducts advocacy work urging the EU to enhance its policies in defence of the rule of law, the good governance and the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Our latest positions and publications
07/03/2024 - Open Letter - (FR)
DRC, European Union - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
26/02/2024 - Communiqué - (FR)
DRC, European Union - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
As the Europe-Central Africa network (EurAc), we represent international solidarity organisations based in various European countries, working in direct partnership with Congolese civil society organisations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). With this declaration, we wish to raise political leaders' awareness of the security situation in the east of the DRC and propose constructive recommendations for European decision-makers.
14/12/2023 - Communiqué - (FR)
DRC, European Union - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
By encouraging the Congolese authorities and the CENI to implement these last priorities before polling day, we hope that the European Union and its Member States, in coordination with all Congolese and international players, will strengthen the commitment and support for peaceful, transparent and credible elections.
25/05/2023 - Communiqué - (EN/FR)
DRC - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
The European Network for Central Africa (EurAc) and its members condemn the brutal methods used by the Congolese National Police (PNC) to disperse the demonstration held on 20 May 2023 in Kinshasa. The European Union (EU) and its Member States must do everything possible to guarantee respect for the fundamental freedoms of the Congolese people throughout the country, and to contribute to the establishment of a climate conducive to the holding of free, transparent, credible, and peaceful elections in 2023.
28/02/2023 - Communiqué - (FR)
DRC - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
As part of his diplomatic visits to the African continent, President Emmanuel Macron will visit the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on 5 March, after visiting Gabon, Angola and Congo-Brazzaville. 31 civil society organisations are encouraging France to place the defence of human rights and respect for democracy at the heart of its foreign policy.
20/02/2023 - Communiqué - (EN)
Great Lakes - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
The European Network for Central Africa (EurAc) welcomes the adoption of a new European Strategy for the Great Lakes, which sends a strong signal in favor of peace and sustainable development in the region. However, EurAc is deeply concerned about the narrow economic-oriented approach chosen by the European Union (EU) as a global response to conflicts in the region. The EU has missed the opportunity of engaging on fundamental issues such as rule of law, good governance, civic space and human rights, which remain cornerstones for lasting peace in the region.
21/06/2022 - Report - (EN)
DRC - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
This report takes stock of the pre-election situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It examines the issues and challenges of the current electoral process and proposes courses of action for the European Union (EU) and its Member States to help pacify the electoral climate, reduce the potential for fraudulent elections and prevent a situation of post-electoral violence that could engulf the entire Great Lakes region. Reviewing the available literature on the past and current sociopolitical situation in the DRC, this report was enriched by data from interviews and questionnaires conducted with stakeholders in the current electoral process, including religious denominations, civil society, opposition and majority political actors, the election management body, certain UN agencies and diplomatic missions accredited to the DRC. Read the full report.
25/01/2022 - Communiqué - (EN/FR)
DRC - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
35 signatory organisations urge the Congolese authorities to release the 13 human rights defenders (HRDs) of LUCHA, arbitrarily detained in the town of Beni after having organised a peaceful demonstration denouncing the killings of civilians in this part of the Province of North Kivu.
17/11/2021 - Policy Brief - (EN)
DRC, European Union - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
In this policy brief, EurAc and its member organisations outline recommendations for a more coherent, continued, and strategic Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) engagement by the European Union (EU) and its Member States focusing on pre-election, elections and post-election times in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
27/10/2021 - Press release - (EN/FR)
DRC, European Union - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
The European Network for Central Africa (EurAc) and its members regret that the appointment of the new president of the CENI Denis Kadima took place in the absence of consensus. The European Union (EU) must do everything possible to avoid a major political crisis that could jeopardise the holding of peaceful democratic elections in 2023.
23/09/2021 - Communiqué - (FR)
Burundi, United Nations - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
[French] Decrying the persistence of serious human rights violations despite the hopes for change nourished by the political changeover; and calling for the renewal of the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry in order to ensure the documentation and in-depth monitoring of the human rights situation in Burundi.
18/08/2021 - Open Letter - (EN/FR)
Burundi, United Nations - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
Ahead of the 48th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC48), 43 NGOs urge delegations to support efforts to ensure that the Council continues its scrutiny of the situation and its work towards justice and accountability in Burundi. In the absence of structural improvements and in light of a recent increase in human rights violations against perceived opponents of the Government, we consider that there is no basis or measurable progress that would justify abandoning the current approach or not renewing the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry.
21/06/2021 - Open Letter - (EN)
Burundi, European Union - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
As the Council of the EU and its preparatory bodies review the situation in Burundi and related EU policy, the undersigned organisations wish to express their concern that the EU and some of its Member States appear willing to overlook the lack of meaningful human rights progress and widespread impunity for past and ongoing serious human rights violations in the country.
21/05/2021 - Open Letter - (EN/FR)
Burundi - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
We, the undersigned organisations, express our dismay that the Burundian Appeals Court of Ntahangwa has not yet announced a verdict in the case of human rights defender Mr. Germain Rukuki. According to legal statutes, this verdict was due within 30 days of the appeal hearing, by 24 April 2021. This undue delay adds to the litany of irregularities that have characterised the legal proceedings in this case since the arrest of Mr. Rukuki in 2017, and further compounds the violation of Mr. Rukuki’s right to a fair trial and due process.
19/01/2021 - Policy Brief - (EN)
DRC, European Union - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights, Peace & Security
In February 2021, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will take over the rotating Presidency of the African Union for the next 12 months. The Congolese government will do so amid a deepening political crisis at home, arising from an ongoing power struggle between the current President Félix Tshisekedi and the former President Joseph Kabila's political coalitions. It is of the utmost importance that the EU and its Member States insist that the DRC government will start making all the necessary provisions to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections in 2023. This includes the transformation of the CENI into a technical, impartial, and politically independent electoral body and the timely reservation of funds to finance the election process.
22/10/2020 - Communiqué - (EN/FR)
Burundi, European Union, United Nations - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
On the first anniversary of their arrest, 65 organisations (including EurAc) call for the immediate and unconditional release of the Iwacu journalists Agnès Ndirubusa, Christine Kamikazi, Egide Harerimana and Térence Mpozenzi who were convicted on charges against state security for simply doing their job.
21/08/2020 - Open Letter - (EN/FR)
Burundi, United Nations - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights, Peace & Security
Ahead of the 45th session of the UN Human Rights Council (#HRC45), EurAc and 42 other civil society organisations write to urge States to support the renewal of the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on Burundi.
09/03/2020 - Communiqué - (FR)
Burundi, United Nations - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
FR - Oral statement by CCPR-Centre co-sponsored by FIACAT, EurAc, Protection International and OMCT. The signatory organisations are particularly concerned by the risk of an intensification of the crisis in the context of the 2020 elections and call on the members of the Council to continue to closely monitor the human rights situation in Burundi. They also call on the Burundian authorities to put an end to serious human rights violations in Burundi and to release journalists and human rights defenders immediately and unconditionally.
04/12/2019 - Report - (EN)
DRC, European Union, Rwanda - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
Challenges and lessons learned for transformative European support for women’s political and civic participation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. EurAc focusses on the strategies and actions undertaken by the EU, Switzerland, France and Belgium in the domain of enhancing the political and civic participation of women and their participation in decision-making bodies at all levels. This analysis is based on the situation of the political and civic participation of women in the DRC and Rwanda, the main challenges in the domain, as well as the strategies and programmes implemented by the European donors (in particular the EU, France, Switzerland and Belgium). It proposes concrete actions and recommendations for the implementation of a truly transformative approach and aims to advocate for a better recognition of deeply rooted societal norms and practices in which gender inequalities in political and civic participation are entrenched.
04/12/2019 - Press release - (EN)
DRC, European Union, Rwanda - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
The Hague (NL) – Today, the European Network for Central Africa (EurAc) launches its latest policy report titled “Promoting gender equality: European rhetoric in view of the facts”, focusing on women’s political and civic participation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and in Rwanda. In this document, EurAc proposes concrete actions and recommendations for a truly transformative European approach to promote the political and civic participation of women, and advocates for a better recognition of deeply rooted societal norms and practices in which gender inequalities in the domain are entrenched.
04/12/2019 - Policy Brief - (EN)
Burundi, Central Africa, Great Lakes - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
Ahead of the African Union (AU) High-Level Dialogue on displacement taking place from 4-6 December in Uganda, 15 African and international NGOs call on African leaders and regional organisations to urge the government of Tanzania to stop pressuring 163,000 refugees and asylum seekers into returning to Burundi, where there are ongoing serious human rights violations against real or perceived opposition supporters, including returning refugees. Read the joint statement on HRW's website: https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/12/04/african-leaders-should-raise-concerns-about-tanzanias-pressure-refugees-return
19/09/2019 - Communiqué - (FR)
DRC, United Nations - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
FR - Oral statement by Franciscans international co-sponsored by Dominicans for Justice and Peace, EurAc, Pain pour le prochain et Action de Carème, AfreWatch and Caritas International, on the occasion of the 42nd session of the Human Rights Council - 19 September 2019.
17/09/2019 - Communiqué - (EN)
Burundi, United Nations - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
Oral statement by FIACAT co-sponsored by AEDH, CCPR Centre, EurAc, Protection International and OMCT on the occasion of the 42nd session of the Human Rights Council - 17 September 2019.
15/09/2019 - Policy Brief - (EN)
European Union - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
Democracy cannot be taken for granted. At a time of fundamental technological change, climate crisis, demographic adjustments, inequalities and power shifts between continents, the EU must promote and protect its founding principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Europe and abroad. The desire of citizens to meaningfully participate in decision-making is universal and over 70% of EU citizens want the EU to do more to spread democracy and peace around the world. Democratic governance offers us the greatest potential for achieving inclusive, sustainable development, human rights, peace and long-term stability. We call on the new European Commission (including the High Representative), the new European Parliament as well as European governments to take action.
03/07/2019 - Policy Brief - (EN)
DRC - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)’s 8th report on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) will be under review by the CEDAW Committee on 9 July 2019. This policy brief is not exhaustive and rather underlines the main priority recommendations related to the impact of mining on women’s rights as well as women political and public participation, which the European Network for Central Africa (EurAc) calls on the Committee to issue during the upcoming review of the DRC.
03/07/2019 - Press release - (EN)
DRC - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
On 9 July 2019, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)’s 8th report on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is going to be under review by the CEDAW Committee. In that framework, the European Network for Central Africa (EurAc) publishes a policy brief, aiming to pinpoint key issues affecting women in the public and political space and in the mining sector.
19/06/2019 - Memorandum - (EN)
DRC - All thematics, Inclusive political participation & Human Rights, Natural Resources, Peace & Security
In the post-electoral framework of the European Union, the European Network for Central Africa (EurAc) publishes its 2019 memorandum on democracy, human rights and natural resources in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, aiming to equip newly elected MEPs with an overview of the main dynamics shaping the Great Lakes region and the two countries and to instil new impetus on European policies towards the region.
19/06/2019 - Memorandum - (EN)
Rwanda - All thematics, Inclusive political participation & Human Rights, Natural Resources, Peace & Security
In the post-electoral framework of the European Union, the European Network for Central Africa (EurAc) publishes its 2019 memorandum on democracy, human rights and natural resources in Rwanda, aiming to equip newly elected MEPs with an overview of the main dynamics shaping the Great Lakes region and the two countries and to instil new impetus on European policies towards the region.
19/06/2019 - Press release - (EN)
Burundi, Central Africa, DRC, European Union, Great Lakes, Rwanda - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights, Natural Resources, Peace & Security
Within the post-electoral context of the European Union, the European Network for Central Africa (EurAc) publishes two memorandums on democracy, human rights and natural resources in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, aiming to provide newly elected MEPs with an overview of the main dynamics shaping the Great Lakes region and both countries, and to give new impetus on European policies towards the region.
17/04/2019 - Annual Report - (EN)
- All thematics, Inclusive political participation & Human Rights, Natural Resources, Peace & Security
The European Network for Central Africa (EurAc) publishes its annual report for 2018, highlighting the activities and publications of the secretariat and the members in 2018, it's 15th anniversary year. Contents: - Editorial by François Mercier, President of EurAc- The new EurAc Strategy 2018-2020: Towards an increased EU support to the people in the Great Lakes Region- 2018 for EurAc in numbers - Our work at the EU level in 2018- Our member organisations in action- Our publications and our presence in the media- Financial situation in 2018
25/03/2019 - Policy Brief - (EN)
DRC, European Union - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
The upcoming cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo will take place in a particular context with the coming to power of a new president. This change of head of state should not lead states parties to the DRC’s UPR to minimise the alarming human rights situation in the country. In this Policy Brief, EurAc and the CCPR-Centre urge the European Union and its member states to remind the DRC government of the commitments made during its second cycle of the UPR; especially those regarding the organisation of transparent and credible elections, the respect and promotion of press and media freedom as well as the protection of human rights defenders. The EU should also issue new recommendations and concerns regarding corruption as well as the management of natural resources, which represent a serious threat to the human rights in the country.
05/09/2018 - Open Letter - (EN)
DRC, United Nations - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
The undersigned Congolese, regional, and international organizations, write to urge your delegation to support the creation of a country-wide human rights monitoring and reporting mechanism on the Democratic Republic of Congo at the upcoming 39th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
05/06/2018 - Open Letter - (EN)
European Union, Rwanda - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
As the President of Rwanda Mr Paul Kagame was in Brussels to meet with EU and Belgian policy and decision-makers and to give a speech for the opening ceremony of the European Development Days organised by the European Commission, the European network for Central Africa (EurAc) sent an open letter to the President of the European Commission, of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, as well as to the High Representative of the European Union, to draw their attention to a number of points regarding the general situation of human rights, the rule of law and democracy in Rwanda that is of particular concern.
28/05/2018 - Policy Brief - (EN)
DRC, European Union - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
As EU member states are due to discuss the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) today at the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), the European network for Central Africa (EurAc) wishes to express to EU ministers its deep concern about a human rights, security and humanitarian crisis that shows no signs of abating and share its new policy brief ‘DR Congo: The EU and its member states must stop their ‘wait and see’ approach and act now in a preventive and united manner’ with concrete actions and recommendations for the European Union (EU) and its member states to show a stronger and more concrete commitment to peace, respect for human rights and development in the DRC.
15/05/2018 - Report - (EN/FR)
Burundi, European Union - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights, Peace & Security
In its new report “Authoritarian abuses and covert elimination of dissident voices in Burundi. What role for the European Union?” launched today on the occasion of a press conference organised in Brussels, the European Network for Central Africa (EurAc) firmly urges the European Union (EU) and its member states to take a much stronger position through bold and concrete actions to stop authoritarian abuses and silencing of dissident voices, particularly in the context of the highly contested referendum that is being organised this Thursday 17 May and which has been characterized by brutal and even murderous repression of all critical voices.
28/03/2018 - Annual Report - (EN/FR)
Burundi, DRC, European Union, Rwanda - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights, Natural Resources, Peace & Security
The European Network for Central Africa (EurAc) publishes its annual report for 2017, highlighting the activities and publications of the secretariat and the members in 2017 as well as looking forward to it's 15th anniversary in 2018.
07/06/2017 - Report - (EN/FR)
Burundi, Central Africa, DRC, European Union, Great Lakes, Rwanda - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
In its new report Democratic processes and political stalemate in the Great Lakes region: For a stronger engagement of the European Union in Burundi, DR Congo and Rwanda published today on the occasion of the public conference organised at the European Parliament on the same theme, the European Network for Central Africa (EurAc) highlights the different political and security crises linked to democratic processes, including electoral processes, in each of the three countries of the Great Lakes region in Africa, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda as well as proposes several recommendations and lines of action for the European Union (EU) to further strengthen its commitment to good governance, the rule of law and democracy in these countries and the region.
03/05/2017 - Policy Brief - (EN)
DRC, European Union - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
In light of the worsening political and security crisis in the DRC, EurAc calls on European Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the High Representative of the EU Federica Mogherini, to take concrete steps to prevent a further escalation of violence and new abuses in the DRC. At the Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 6 March, the EU declared its intention to “adopt new individual restrictive measures against those responsible for serious human rights violations or for incitement to violence and those who would obstruct a consensual and peaceful solution to the crisis, one that respects the aspiration of the people of the DRC to elect their representatives”. EurAc believes that it is time to turn words into action, this declaration into a decision to apply new targeted sanctions.
28/02/2017 - Policy Brief - (EN)
DRC, European Union - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
As the European Foreign Affairs Ministers are due to discuss the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at the next Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 6 March 2017, the European Network for Central Africa (EurAc) strongly believes that a second round of European Union (EU) targeted sanctions (travel ban and asset freeze) against senior political and security actors, closer to the inner circle of President Joseph Kabila and responsible for human rights abuse as well as for the violent crackdown on dissident voices and for undermining the democratic process, would be useful to increase the pressure on DRC officials to find a solution to the political and security crisis.
07/12/2016 - Report - (EN/FR)
DRC, European Union - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights, Peace & Security
With this new report, the European network for Central Africa (EurAc) wishes to draw the attention of European political decision-makers, at all levels of power, to the gravity and the risks of the situation in the DRC. The next step is to provide them with action plans, on the one hand for the adoption of strong and urgent measures to prevent this crisis leading to a serious escalation of violence and a regional security crisis, and on the other to support the electoral process in such a way as to bring the country out of the current stalemate. These action plans stem from an assessment of the current political situation and the security risks in the DRC, and the responses that the EU and its Member States have provided so far and those that they should strengthen in order to prevent a further escalation of violence and new abuses in the DRC.
02/06/2016 - Report - (EN/FR)
DRC, European Union - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights, Peace & Security
The European Union can play an essential role in keeping the ongoing political turmoil in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from escalating into a national and regional security
17/12/2015 - Policy Brief - (FR)
Burundi, European Union - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights, Peace & Security
FR - Le Réseau européen pour l’Afrique centrale (EurAc) et ses membres condamnent l’inquiétante escalade des violences ces derniers jours au Burundi et tiennent à exprimer leur solidarité aux organisations de la société civile burundaise. Ils appellent la Communauté Internationale, et l’UE en particulier, à répondre avec fermeté à la dégradation alarmante de la situation politique et sécuritaire au Burundi, et à prendre des mesures fortes afin de prévenir le glissement vers une guerre civile qui aurait inévitablement des répercussions dramatiques sur la région des Grand Lacs.
22/07/2015 - Policy Brief - (FR)
Burundi, European Union - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
FR - Le Réseau Européen pour l’Afrique Centrale (EurAc) et ses membres appellent l’Union Européenne (UE) à ne pas reconnaître les résultats des élections au Burundi et à prendre les sanctions appropriées à l’encontre du Président Nkurunziza et de son gouvernement.
02/03/2015 - Policy Brief - (EN/FR)
Burundi, European Union - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights
Three months from the holding of legislative and local elections in Burundi (on 26 May 2015), which will be followed by presidential elections (26 June) amongst others, and numerous concerns persist about the democratic nature of the entire electoral process. On this occasion, EurAc would like to reiterate that "only the organisation of an inclusive, transparent and peaceful electoral process would enable the country, which is still in a post-conflict situation, to overcome the political deadlock caused by the 2010 electoral process". This is why, taking into account certain developments that have taken place in the last few weeks, the European Union and its Member States must continue to closely monitor the pre-election, election and post-election situation, if necessary strengthening their political dialogue with the Burundian authorities.
01/10/2014 - Memorandum - (EN/FR)
Burundi, Central Africa, DRC, European Union, Great Lakes, Rwanda, United Nations - Inclusive political participation & Human Rights, Natural Resources, Peace & Security
In this memorandum EurAc presents an analysis of the regional challenges and specific challenges for each of the three countries (DRC, Burundi & Rwanda), which the EU must take into consideration in order to effectively and sustainably support peace and democracy in Central Africa. This analysis is supplemented by recommendations addressed to the various competent European political decision-makers.