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Regional Research and Documentation Centre for Women, Gender and Peace-building in the Great Lakes region

The purpose of this UNESCO-Category II Centre, located in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), is to safeguard and promote women’s rights in post-conflict countries of the Great Lakes region. It notably concentrates on 11 countries: Angola, Burundi, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, The Central African Republic, The Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, The Sudan, The United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. National centres in each of these countries help to coordinate its actions.

The centre conducts three main programs:

  • Research on violence against women in the region
  • Creation of an observatory on women and poverty
  • Creation of a virtual network between the regional centre and the national centres as well as creation of a digital library for the dissemination of resources and publications throughout the region

The centre conducts research on the legal, economic, cultural, social and political status of women, and observes and criticizes modern and traditional practices that impede gender equality and the empowerment of women. It also strengthens the research capacities in feminine and gender studies to reach academic excellence in this domain in the region. To this end and for better cooperation, a network of scientific research is set up. The documents produced by the center will be available to everyone, in particular through virtual networks and digital libraries.

The centre is legally independent and autonomous. Its decision-making bodies are the board of directors and the scientific council.

Resolution 1325 of the United Nations Security Council reaffirms the role of women in preventing and managing conflicts. The centre meets the UN objectives by improving the situation of women including their participation in political life. The centre can deliver benefits for government departments and ministries active in the field of women's rights, as well as for academia, civil society and the media. Project partners are UNESCO, UNIFEM, UNECA and the Conference of the Great Lakes region (CIRGL). There are also partnerships with already existing research institutions, other UN agencies and NGOs.

Last change: 29.11.11 - 14:13