In the Democratic Republic of Congo, despite the change of leadership, human rights defenders still operate in a challenging environment. As the government admitted during its Universal Periodic Review, a lot remains to be done for Congolese to fully enjoy their human rights in the country.
On 19 September a review of the human rights record of the Democratic Republic of Congo took place through the UPR mechanism. During the review, ISHR delivered a statement highlighting the legal framework in which NGOs operate and the need to improve it.
“ISHR continues to remain very concerned about the bill currently under discussion at the Parliament supposedly for the promotion and protection of human rights defenders. As it stands, the bill would in fact restrict human rights defenders, as it would allow excessive control and interference from the State and focuses on the sanctions entailed by the alleged failure of NGOs to comply with this oversight” said Salma El Hosseiny, ISHR Human Rights Council Advocate.
Moreover, the Protection Cell for Human Rights Defenders which is supposed to be responsible for ensuring defenders’ protection and serving as an intermediate with the relevant authorities when defenders are arrested, is yet to be functional.
During the UPR review, ISHR further called on the DRC to:
Watch the statement here:
Contact: Adélaïde Etong Kame, Africa Advocacy Consultant, [email protected]
Photo: FlickR/Jelena Prtoric
On 22 May, the African Commission concluded its 83rd ordinary session, which saw the State periodic reviews of Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, panels on the repression of human rights defenders, the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, and reparations for Africans and people of African descent, as well as the launch of ISHR’s report on the situation of defenders in African island States and a new e-learning module on the Commission.
During the 83rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), a high-level panel discussion was held on advancing justice for Africans and people of African descent through reparations.
At the 83rd ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Commission, or ACHPR), the African Commission reviewed Ethiopia under the State reporting procedure, as per article 62 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. We call on Ethiopia to do more to protect human rights defenders in the country.
