Democratic Republic of Congo

House of Lords written question – answered at on 12 July 2010.

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Photo of Lord Alton of Liverpool Lord Alton of Liverpool Crossbench

To ask Her Majesty's Government how much they have spent on (a) the protection of human rights activists, journalists and political activists, and (b) promoting respect for human rights, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Photo of Lord Howell of Guildford Lord Howell of Guildford Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) (International Energy Policy)

We are deeply concerned at the increasing intimidation and violence faced by human rights defenders, journalists, parliamentarians, and civil society in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In addition to raising individual cases of concern we continue to press the Government of DRC bilaterally and with our EU partners to meet their responsibility for protecting human rights.

We have provided funding through the Africa Conflict Prevention Pool to the UN peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) protection fund which supports human rights defenders.

Additionally we provide bilateral support to projects promoting human rights. We are currently in the process of assessing new proposals and will be allocating funding to successful projects in the coming weeks. In 2009-10 we contributed £14,048 to the UN peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) protection unit which provides protection services to those in danger including relocation and advice on personal security.

We also funded a number of projects for the promotion of human rights including:

contributing £23,578 to REJEER, a children's rights non-governmental organisation (NGO), to fund a leaflet aimed at children to explain their rights under the 2009 Child Protection Law; and.spending £1,322 to arrange a screening of a film on sexual and gender-based violence to members of the DRC Parliament.

We are also contributing £11 million over five years to a media fund jointly administered with France and Sweden which supports local media organisations and NGOs including Journalists in Danger which campaigns for freedom of the press.

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