Bunia, Ituri – On Friday, August 22, 2023, a significant advancement for the protection of human rights defenders occurred in Bunia, in the Ituri province. During a meeting at the provincial hotel, the NGO Alerte Congolaise pour l’Environnement et les Droits Humains (ACEDH) unveiled the details of its initiative aimed at revising the law concerning the protection and accountability of human rights defenders.
This initiative, which attracted various human and environmental rights actors and defenders, was marked by in-depth discussions and a collective awareness of the shortcomings of the current legislation. Maître Olivier Ndoole, head of ACEDH, emphasized that the existing law, far from protecting human rights defenders, has often served as a means to criminalize their actions. According to him, certain provisions of this law have become genuine threats to the vital work of these actors.
The situation for human rights defenders in the DRC is alarming: they frequently face prosecutions, threats, and attacks. Collected testimonies reveal a climate of fear and insecurity, with about thirty defenders being harassed and others losing their lives under tragic circumstances.
In response to this, ACEDH has initiated a petition addressed to President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi, seeking his support for the revision of the law. This petition, currently in the signature collection phase, is accompanied by a draft proposal for amending and complementing the existing legislation, specifically Law No. 23-27 of June 15, 2023.
Meeting participants had the opportunity to review the draft of the petition as well as the outline of the legislative proposal. This initiative marks a crucial step for human rights advocacy in the DRC and offers a tangible hope for a more protective and less restrictive legal framework for those working for justice and fundamental rights.
With growing mobilization around the law revision and support evidenced by the ongoing petition, there is legitimate hope that these efforts will lead to positive changes. The path is now set to enhance the security and freedom of human rights defenders, with the hope of an era where their work is fully respected and supported.
By Joel Heri Budjo
