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
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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.
In the last few weeks, dozens of lawyers, doctors, and activists have been detained, tortured, and killed around Sudan by both fighting parties, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). During this period, arbitrary arrest campaigns intensified around the country. The whereabouts of hundreds of detainees are unknown, as they remain at risk of torture, unfair trials, and execution. Lawyers in different states face unprecedented crackdowns impacting the detainees' right to legal aid.
In São Tome and Principe, civil society knows very little about the instruments adopted by international and regional human rights protection mechanisms to protect their rights, and how these can be used in the event of a violation. A recent civil society workshop provided a first step to change this.
Between 9 and 11 July 2024, ISHR together with Colombian partners Asosciaciación Minga, the Colombian Commission of Jurists and the Somos Defensores Program organised a cross regional discussion on protection mechanisms for human rights defenders.