DRC National Law: Challenges and Opportunities
Brussels, November 30, 2023 Statement In Africa and worldwide, an increasing number of countries are developing laws for the protection of human rights defenders (HRDs) and their right to defend human rights. We welcome such developments as an important first step in recognising the positive role HRDs play in promoting human rights, democratic values and […]
The Right to Defend Human Rights, not for all? A Case Study of Public Policies on Human Rights Defenders in the DRC
Megan Thomas In the regions of North and South Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the protection of human rights defenders (HRDs) faces significant challenges due to structural constraints and active efforts by authorities to limit civic space. While the introduction of protective edicts offers hope, various obstacles hinder their full implementation. […]
The Beni military court annuls sentence for the 13 LUCHA human rights defenders
The Beni military court annuls the sentence for the 13 LUCHA human rights defenders Protection International (PI) and Protection International Africa (PIA) welcome the decision of the military court of North Kivu, DR Congo, to annul the sentence of 13 human rights defenders (HRDs) of the citizen movement Lutte pour le changement “LUCHA” in an […]
13 LUCHA defenders sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for peaceful protest – a stain on the rule of law so highly praised by the authorities in the DR Congo.
JOINT STATEMENT 01 April 2022 We, the signatory organizations, deplore the unfounded and unjust condemnation of the thirteen human rights defenders (HRDs) of the LUCHA by the Beni Garrison Military Court. Today, 1 April 2022, 13 human rights defenders from the LUCHA movement were sentenced to 12 months in prison by the Beni Garrison Military […]
A one-month delay in the verdict of the 13 LUCHA defenders– release them now
9 March 2022 – We, the undersigned organizations, express our dismay that the Beni Garrison Military Tribunal has not yet announced a verdict in the case of the 13 LUCHA human rights defenders (HRDs) from Beni, North Kivu. According to legal statutes, this verdict was due within 30 days of the final court hearing, by […]
Celebration of the Women Human Rights Defenders Day in DR Congo
By Ephrem Chiruza “We will not stop until all human rights defenders enjoy their right to defend human rights by creating an enabling environment for this work to continue,” said Susan Muriungi, Protection International (PI) Africa Regional Director during the celebration of Women Human Rights Defenders Day held at the Dutch Embassy Liaison Office in […]
Peaceful protest is not a crime, release the 13 LUCHA human rights defenders detained in Beni, North Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo.
JOINT PUBLIC STATEMENT [Goma (RD Congo)] 21 January 2022. We, the 35 signatory organizations, urge the Congolese authorities to release the 13 human rights defenders (HRDs) of LUCHA, arbitrarily detained in the town of Beni after having organized a peaceful demonstration denouncing the killings of civilians in this part of the Province of North Kivu. […]
Launch of the Protection Network for Women Human Rights Defenders in DR Congo
[DR Congo] On November 29, the world celebrates Women’s Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) Day. On this occasion, Protection International (PI) is pleased to explain more about the challenges that WHRDs face daily in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), especially in the eastern provinces— where women and girls have continued to bear the […]
The Dire Working Environment for Women Human Rights Defenders in DR Congo
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), especially in the eastern part of the country, over two decades of armed conflict and political instability have deteriorated the working conditions for human rights defenders. In 2020, the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) documented 7,909 human rights violations and abuses throughout the DR Congo. […]
450K People Forced to Flee Volcanic Eruption in Goma
Human rights defenders and Protection International staff were forced to put their work on hold, while the Nyiragongo volcano erupted in their backyard June 2021 – “The volcanic eruption of Nyiragongo came like a thief. The early warning system did not alert us as early as possible; the lava came suddenly and people were in […]