3 Strategies to Open up the Constitutional Debate

In order to popularise the constitutional process, EISA has initiated the following activities:

Meeting with the Press

October 19 2004
Three Experts from EISA, KAF and the EU were invited to present to the press about the challenges of the future Constitution via a broadcast with the three most important radio stations in Kinshasa: RAGA, RTGA and TOPCONGO. Members of the Press were invited with the aim of involving them in the constitutional debate. This debate was broadcast over two weeks. As a result, it is now common for people to express their views about constitutional matters in the press. The national television station (RTNC) organised a debate about the Constitution with political leaders, focusing on the same key issues that were the themes EISA had highlighted in previous activities.

A two-day seminar with Civil Society Organisations

22 - 23 October 2004
EISA organised a seminar with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). The main purpose was to provide CSO representatives with an opportunity to reflect on appropriate strategies for civil society to make its voice heard in the process of drafting the Constitution.

The seminar gathered delegates from 95 CSOs of whom 11 came from the provinces. EISA invited other international institutions to join the seminar, namely, EU, KAF, Global Rights and USAID.

The seminar produced the following results:

• A declaration from the CSOs, contained in a memorandum
• A commitment from CSOs to involve themselves in the constitutional process.