03/04/2026
The 61st Session of the Human Rights Council has been impactful for Dominicans for Justice and Peace. We addressed the Council, together with Fastenaktion - Action de Carême - Azione Quaresimale, under Item 10 on the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In our statement, we drew attention to the alarming situation of women and young people working in artisanal mining in Haut‑Katanga, where mining remains a vital source of income but comes with severe human rights risks. As highlighted in our intervention, “In the absence of viable economic alternatives, women continue to work there under extremely precarious conditions that expose them to serious health risks” . We also expressed deep concern about the involvement of thousands of children and youth in hazardous mining activities, which jeopardizes their health, education, and future.
🌍For the DRC, we called on authorities to:
⚫Accelerate the formalization of artisanal mining zones to improve safety and oversight
⚫Provide sustainable economic alternatives for families, especially women • Guarantee free, quality education and vocational training for children and youth
⚫Reinforce prevention and accountability mechanisms for gender‑based violence on mining sites
🌍We co-signed the statement by Associazione Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII, Caritas Internationalis at the panel discussion on human rights and a culture of peace. It calls for:
⚫Establishing national Ministries of Peace to promote dialogue, mediation, restorative justice, and nonviolence;
⚫Reduce military spending and support conversion of war industries to civilian production;
⚫Develop unarmed civil defence (Civil Peace Corps, Universal Civil Service) and consider a Special Rapporteur on the right to peace to ensure accountability.
UNOP also co-signed the joint oral statement by CCIG
Across all statements, our calls converge on a shared priority: ensuring that human rights commitments translate into real protection for communities on the ground and that peace is to be upheld.
🌍The joint statement urged States to:
⚫Strengthen implementation of recommendations through effective National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting and Follow-ups
⚫Defend the UPR’s role as a constructive multilateral tool
⚫Renew efforts toward inclusive and sustainable development ahead of 2030
Co‑signers of the Item 6 statement: Associazione Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII, Caritas Internationalis, DKA Austria, Edmund Rice International, FIACAT, FMSI ngo, VIDES Internazionale, IIMA, OIEC, Pax Christi International, Pax Romana, Plan International, Fastenaktion - Action de Carême - Azione Quaresimale, UPR Info, World Evangelical Alliance
Video of the Item 6 statement: https://lnkd.in/dhxsPaAD
CCIG article: https://lnkd.in/dBSXU9Se
Full HRC session (Item 6 GD): https://lnkd.in/dT9jxdb7
All 3 statements can be found on our website: https://un.op.org/type-official-event/official-statements/
