Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ratification: 2001)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received. Noting the adoption of Act No. 15/013 of 1 August 2015 on the rules for implementing women’s rights and gender parity, and of Act No. 16/008 of 15 July 2016 amending the Family Code, it hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the specific issues raised in relation to the Family Code, and other matters raised in its previous comments.

Repetition

With regard to the human rights situation, the seriousness of which it emphasized in its previous comments, the Committee observes that, in its report of 13 January 2013 (A/HRC/19/48), the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights noted with grave concern the staggering number of cases of sexual and gender-based violence and called for an intensification of efforts to ensure continued progress in combating these acts of violence. The High Commissioner once again highlighted that the obstacles to combating sexual violence go beyond the weakness of state institutions and are related to cultural and socio-economic issues. In addition to the need to strengthen state responses in cases of sexual violence, there is a need to address the root causes of this violence, and particularly the precarious and disadvantaged socio-economic position of women in Congolese society. According to the report of 12 July 2013 of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (A/HRC/24/33), the human rights situation had significantly deteriorated since the January 2012 report especially in the eastern part of the country where there was an important increase in the number of human rights violations and serious violations of international humanitarian law that could amount to war crimes, committed by national security and defence forces, as well as by national armed groups. The Committee observes that the High Commissioner also confirmed that sexual violence continues to be committed at “appalling levels” throughout the country and highlighted the alarming increase in mass rape committed by armed groups and members of the Congolese army. The Committee is bound to reiterate that the objective of the Convention, especially with regard to equality of opportunity and treatment between men and women in employment and occupation, cannot be achieved in a general context of serious violations of human rights and inequality in society. Taking into account the grave concerns which continue to be expressed regarding the human rights situation and its serious effects on women, the Committee once again urges the Government to take the necessary measures to address the inferior position of women in society, which is reflected in the sexual violence committed against them and in the discriminatory legislation, which the Committee considers to have a serious impact on the application of the principles of the Convention, and to create the necessary conditions to give effect to the provisions of the Convention.

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Prohibition of discrimination in employment and occupation. Legislation. The Committee recalls that neither the Labour Code nor Act No. 81/003 of 17 July 1981, issuing the conditions of service of career members of the state public service contain provisions prohibiting and defining direct or indirect discrimination in employment and occupation. The Committee notes that the Government confines itself to indicating that provisions to this end will be included in the national legislation when the Labour Code is revised and Act No. 81/003 amended. The Committee once again requests the Government to take the necessary measures in the near future to ensure that all discrimination, both direct and indirect, based as a minimum on the grounds set forth in the Convention and covering all aspects of employment and occupation, are defined and explicitly prohibited by the labour legislation applicable to the public and private sectors, and to provide copies of the texts that are adopted.

Discrimination based on sex. Legislation. The Committee recalls that in its previous comments it emphasized that sections 448 and 497 of Act No. 87/010 of 1 August 1987 issuing the Family Code, and section 8(8) of Act No. 81/003 of 17 July 1981, under the terms of which a married woman has to obtain authorization from her husband to work, discriminated against women in employment and occupation. The Government indicates that it has just forwarded a revised draft of the Family Code to Parliament for adoption, and that the new conditions of service of employees in the public administration have still not been enacted. While noting this information, the Committee trusts that the Government will make every effort to ensure that new conditions of service for employees in the public administration are enacted in the near future, and that their provisions are in conformity with the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to provide a copy of this text as soon as it is enacted.

Discrimination based on race or ethnic origin. Indigenous peoples. For several years, the Committee, based in particular on the concluding observations of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), has emphasized the marginalization and discrimination of indigenous “pygmy” peoples in relation to the enjoyment of their economic, social and cultural rights, particularly with regard to access to education, health and the labour market and it urges the Government to take measures to guarantee equality of opportunity and treatment for indigenous peoples in employment and occupation. The Committee notes that the Government confines itself to indicating that indigenous peoples benefit from all the rights guaranteed by the Constitution and that a Bill to ensure their protection is being examined by Parliament. The Committee recalls that a true policy of equality must also include measures to correct de facto inequalities of which certain categories of the population are victims and take into account their specific needs. The Committee requests the Government to take practical measures to allow indigenous peoples access, on an equal footing with other members of the population, to all levels of education, vocational training and employment, and to resources which enable them to carry out their traditional and subsistence activities, particularly to land. In this regard, the Committee requests the Government to accord particular attention to indigenous women, who are faced with additional discrimination in the labour market and within their community based on gender. The Committee also requests the Government to take measures to combat prejudices and stereotypes of which indigenous peoples are victims and to raise the awareness of other categories of the population of their culture and way of life so as to promote equality of treatment and mutual tolerance. It asks the Government to supply information on the progress made in the legislative process and the contents of the Bill to protect indigenous peoples, as well as data, disaggregated by sex, on their socio-economic situation.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the near future.