WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 11, 2006) - In the final hours of the current congressional session, Congress passed S. 2125, the Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security and Democracy Promotion Act of 2006. CARE applauds the passage of this bill as an important step in bringing much-needed attention to a country emerging from one of the deadliest conflicts since World War II.
"S. 2125 establishes important policies to help the Congo meet the needs of its citizens, govern justly, establish security and transparently manage its natural resources," said Marianne Leach, CARE's director of government relations. "All of these activities are vital to ensuring improvements in the lives of Congolese citizens and building lasting peace and stability for the benefit of the entire Central African region."
The bill was introduced in December of 2005 by Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., along with a bipartisan group of co-sponsors, including Sens. Sam Brownback, R-Kans., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Mike DeWine, R-Ohio. S. 2125 promises U.S. engagement with the Congo as its first democratically-elected government in more than 40 years attempts to achieve lasting peace, recover from conflict and provide for its citizens. The bill lays out 15 core points of U.S. policy toward the country, including ensuring the new government is committed to democracy, transparent governance and respect for human rights; halting the high prevalence of sexual abuse and violence perpetrated against women and children; and facilitating development and humanitarian relief.
CARE played a key role in educating policymakers about the humanitarian situation in the Congo and the importance of supporting the country as it moves towards sustainable peace. In addition to CARE's direct engagement with lawmakers, CARE Action Network volunteers contacted their legislators to support the bill during CARE's annual National Advocacy Conference in June and again by email and phone in December, demonstrating strong domestic support for this legislation.
CARE works in the Congo in the provinces of Maniema, Equateur, Katanga and East and West Kasia, with projects covering civil society, microfinance, health, education, sustainable management of resources and child protection.
