The Consortium of NGOs for Monitoring Public Action Reform (CORAP) has recently concluded a two-day workshop dedicated to establishing the first people’s tribunal for restoring the rights of communities affected by extractive activities of natural resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In an interview with Kilalopress TV, Emmanuel Musuyu, executive secretary of CORAP, explained that this initiative aims to organize the first session of a permanent people’s tribunal in the DRC.
Restoring the Rights of Affected Communities
The people’s tribunal represents a space created for local communities in the DRC, who have long been marginalized and affected by the impacts of natural resource exploitation such as minerals, water, and forests. The DRC, being at the heart of the Congo Basin, plays a crucial role in addressing global climate challenges. However, extractive activities, whether it’s copper, cobalt, oil, or water resources through large dams, are often carried out by multinational corporations, raising the fundamental question of who truly benefits from these activities.
Objectives of the People’s Tribunal
The executive secretary emphasized that this tribunal will provide communities with the opportunity to voice their grievances, identify the violations suffered at the hands of companies that disregard social standards for their own profit. The tribunal will focus on three major themes representing extractivism, including green extractivism related to energy transition, the exploitation of oil and gas, and the issue of forestry in relation to the protection of the Congo Basin.
Strengthening Environmental Justice
The two-day workshop brought together various stakeholders, both national and international, to reflect on the implementation and operation of this tribunal. It was emphasized that communities must prepare to address and express their problems in order to provide compelling evidence for advocacy aimed at restoring the rights of people affected by extraction. Awareness campaigns will soon be launched to bolster the pursuit of environmental justice.
The establishment of this people’s tribunal represents a significant step towards environmental justice in the DRC, offering communities a platform to assert their rights in the face of the detrimental impacts of extractive activities.