Photo: UNWebTV screenshot. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, delivers his Oral Update on the situation of human rights in DRC
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Africa
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The Democratic Republic of the Congo must guarantee the public freedoms of human rights defenders
While the human rights situation in the DRC has further deteriorated and the armed violence has intensified, the Council called for an accelerated adoption of the Law on the Protection and Responsibility of Human Rights Defenders.
ISHR and SOS Information Juridique Multisectorielle (SOS IJM) delivered a joint statement highlighting the importance of implementing a transitional justice mechanism to ensure the rule of law. In addition, we urged the government to complete the second reading of the Law on the Protection and Responsibility of Human Rights Defenders and align it with international standards and principles for the protection of defenders, especially regarding undue restrictions on their recognition as defenders.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, echoed the importance of a speedy adoption of the pending bill on the protection of human rights defenders amidst harassment and detentions of defenders and journalists by national intelligence agencies. He stated that there appear to be systematic efforts to prevent journalists and civil society actors from investigating allegations involving security forces, particularly in conflict areas.
The European Union reiterated similar concerns on the situation of defenders and journalists, especially within conflict-affected areas, and that state agents committed 87% of the violations against the democratic space. However, Angola welcomed the DRC’s recognition of the vital role played by defenders.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the DRC and the Head of MONUSCO, Bintou Keita, described how DRC’s fragile security and political context have resulted in a shrinking civic space and increasing reprisals against defenders and journalists. Also, Junior Safari Runiga of the Network for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, Witnesses, Victims and Media Professionals (REPRODEV) expressed his concerns about restrictions on the public freedoms of defenders, journalists and political opponents and the cycle of violence and plundering of natural resources by armed groups in provinces, such as Ituri, Maniema, North Kivu, South Kivu and Tanganyika.
Anusika is currently completing her Master’s Degree in Human Rights at the University of Oslo. In her past experiences with NGOs such as Child Rights Connect and Human Rights Watch, she has been very engaged in child empowerment and advocacy work related to human rights abuses in several countries. Also, she has volunteered in fundraising projects for children and supported asylum-seekers with their integration. Due to Anusika’s Sri Lankan roots, she aims to empower vulnerable groups of society, including girls, women and refugees.
The UN Committee against Torture (CAT) reviewed Bahrain’s fourth periodic report (CAT/C/BHR/4) during its 83rd session in Geneva in November 2025. The dialogue focused heavily on the situation of human rights defenders, torture, accountability, and conditions of detention. ISHR and partner organisations played a central role in ensuring that the Committee addressed the urgent cases of several detained defenders.
The NGO Forum, ahead of the 85th ACHPR’s session in Banjul, held several panel discussions on the AU 2025 theme 'Reparations: Justice for Africans and People of African Descent' with different focuses, including the regional and UN standards on reparations, economic justice, as well as discrimination in Africa based on work and descent.
From 15 to 22 October, 16 defenders from across Africa took part in ISHR's capacity-strengthening programme on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) for the body’s 85th session.
