Kinshasa, 19 May 2010- From 4th to 12th May, MONUC Public Information Division in partnership with the Catholic School Teachers Union (SYNECAT), organised the second phase of the campaign to sensitise people in 14 of Kinshasa's 24 districts.

Recalling the DRC's membership in the United Nations, these conferences offer an opportunity to explain to participants the world organisation's presence and role in the country through MONUC, UN agencies, programmes and funds.

Mr. Cardoso Losembe, first representative from Congo to the United Nations Congo and currently deputy Speaker of the Senate, speaking at the United Nations Day ceremony on 24 October 2009, noted that "the first move the DRC made after its independence was to join the United Nations, thereby gaining international recognition as a sovereign State." This has entitled the DRC under the UN Charter to be assisted, when in difficulty, by other member countries, with such assistance being provided according to the principles laid down in the Charter whose aim is to spare future generations the scourge of war.

This point was echoed by Ngiri-Ngiri district's deputy Government Delegate General for liaison with MONUC, Mr Noel Mbemba. He said: "To be assisted by a UN mission is a legitimate right recognised to all member states of the United Nations. This can in no way be construed as a weakness on the part of any State requesting such assistance in time of conflict."

To a question about the DRC's request for a drawdown plan for MONUC, Mr Mbemba responded: "It is not good for this country to perpetually remain under the guardianship of the United Nations. This tends to suggest that the country is unable to manage its own affairs. On this basis, the government asked MONUC to present a drawn down plan for its forces and the government did so in recognition of the fact that MONUC will one day leave the country. That plan is now being discussed."

For his part, Mr. Patrick Manzonbi, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, pointed out that "the decision to send a UN mission to the DRC was not taken by the Security Council alone, but was taken in agreement with the Congolese government." There is, he said, "a Status of Forces Agreement, and the DRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs is charged with working with MONUC in order to facilitate its mission on the ground. It is therefore normal for the Congolese State to ask MONUC to evaluate its work with a view to its withdrawal."

Launched in January 2010 by the Minister of Foreign Affairs within the framework of the celebration of UN Day, 24 October 2009, and initially involving 10 districts of Kinshasa, the series of "Conferences on the United Nations" aims to popularise the UN Charter among the population in general and in particular among schoolchildren, students, civic/ethics teachers, opinion leaders, and district authorities.

Conference sessions were articulated around a series of three presentations: one by a teacher on the UN Charter, one by a MONUC Public Information officer on MONUC's mandate, and one by a Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative discussing relations between MONUC and the DRC. The presentations – which were interspersed with video projections of the celebration of UN Day to provide, among other things, a reminder of the DRC's status as a member country of the United Nations – were followed by question-and-answer sessions.

Responding to a question about the UN's usefulness in light of the persistence of various conflicts around the world, Mr. Mbemba noted that "in a world driven by self-interest, countries are vying for their own interests. It all depends on each individual country, obviously. But If the United Nations Organisation had not existed, the strongest nations would have crushed the weakest, but this is not the case today. The UN, therefore, has its reason for being."

Participants were generally satisfied with what they learned during these discussions. For example, Mbela Makete, a student in his fifth year of secondary school, said: "Knowing the circumstances in which the United Nations came into existence is important, especially knowing the names of successive Secretaries-General." Junior Tangwa, a final year secondary-school student, said that from the discussion of the UN Charter he had learned the difference between MONUC and the United Nations Organisation.

This campaign has been taking place in the districts of Ngiri Ngiri, Bandalungwa, Ngaliema Kintambo N'djili, Nsele, Kalamu, Kasa Vubu Makala Kinsenso, Limete Kinshasa Selembao, Mont Ngafula, and is expected to reach a total of about 3,000 people.