Rencontre pour la Paix et les Droits de l’Homme et l’Observatoire Congolais pour les Droits de l’Homme published today a new report on....

Forêts et Initiative pour la Transparence dans les Industries Extractives au Congo : bilan et perspectives (Forests in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in Congo: Where are we and where should we head to?)

The briefing produced in collaboration with Congolese civil society platforms, with support from Fern, examines how the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) has improved transparency in the forest sector.

By joining the EITI, the Congolese government committed to increasing transparency in the extractives sector including logging activities, and to disclose information on the revenues generated from oil, mining and timber.

The EITI also strengthens transparency requirements under the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) between the Republic of Congo and the European Union (EU) which makes access to information an essential element of accountability and forest governance.

Despite progress, challenges remain such as how to make redistribution and use of revenues more accountable. In addition, local communities still cannot find out how the natural resources on which they depend are managed.

To ensure that EITI transparency requirements strengthen accountability, the Congolese government must deliver on its forest governance commitments by completing and enforcing the legal framework.

The EITI in Congo should therefore focus on the following priorities:

• Contribute to the public debate on the management and use of the country's natural resources.
• Be clear about decision makers accountability in delivering their commitments.
• Be involved in legal and tax reforms.
• Verify that contracts and relevant legislation are enforced.
• Strengthen linkages with other governance reforms such as the VPA with the EU.

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