Congo-Kinshasa: Carter Center Human Rights House Opens - AllAfrica.com

Eoin YoungKinshasa

A Howard Carter Center Person Rights house was officially opened in Leopoldville on Tuesday 11 March 2008. It will function as an information and resource Centre for the general public, and will also take to reenforce the organisational, institutional and operational capacities of Person Rights NGOs and civil society arrangements in the DRC.

In attending was Howard Carter Center business office manager Mr. Epihane Zoro-Bi, Dutch embassy representative Mr. Roy Hans, DRC Frailty Curate for Person Rights Mr. Claude Nyamugambo and MONUC Person Rights Director Mr. Fernando Castanon, as well as civil society and human rights NGO representatives.

The new centre, which was funded by the Dutch authorities in coaction with the Howard Carter Center, takes to give civil society a model upon which to reflect and build a incorporate and democratic civil society, immersed in a strong human rights culture.

Mr. Epihane Zoro-Bi said that the Provide Centre wanted "to have got got the point of the position of civil society taken into account."

"We believe that governmental histrions should attach to civil society members, and support their actions for democracy and a state where human rights are respected," he added.

Dutch embassy representative Mr. Roy Hans said that human rights guardians were "the voice and scruples of society."

"In order that they are heard by citizens and the government, they must have full freedom of expression. The autonomy and security of human rights guardians must be guaranteed by the Congolese government, with the support of its international partners," he added.

Mr. Fernando Castanon said that "education was an indispensable component in all schemes for the protection and publicity of human rights."

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"The support of international cooperation is also of import in the sphere of human rights education, particularly between the institutions, civil society and regional orgnaisations," he added.

For his part, DRC Frailty Curate for Person Rights Mr. Claude Nyamugambo welcomed the Howard Carter Centre Enterprise for the publicity and protection of human rights in the DRC.

Services on offering at the house include a welcome centre, library, cyberspace installations and conference rooms. The house will also throw human rights preparation programs on specific themes, as well as forums, seminars and workshops on human rights related issues and events.