Report of the round table on the law on the exemption of legal fees for victims of sexual violence in the DRC
On Saturday June 10, 2023, Journalists for Human Rights (JDH/DRC), in collaboration with civil society associations, organized a round table on the theme “What to do to achieve the promulgation by the Head of State of the law on the exemption of legal fees for victims of sexual violence in the DRC?”. This discussion is part of the Canada-world project: The voice of women and girls, and aimed to raise awareness among the population, parliamentarians and decision-makers about this crucial issue.
The participants pleaded in particular for the validation of this bill, carried by the deputy Juvénal Munubo, who indeed wishes to modify and supplement the decree of August 6, 1959 on the Congolese criminal procedure code. This law aims to exempt court fees for survivors of sexual violence, who are often prevented from accessing justice due to the financial burden required, surrounding them with a silence that can be deadly.
Lucie Ngusi, member of the JDH, explained the ambitions of this day of discussion: “Civil society organizations working for the defense and promotion of the rights of women and girls in the DRC had initiated a bill to defend the victims of sexual violence, to allow them easy access to justice without paying fees. Submitted to the office of the National Assembly on January 28, 2022 by the deputy carrying the law, it took a year for it to be adopted at the level of the National Assembly. Now we have moved on to the second stage: the second reading at the senate level. We had preferred that the senators be there to support us at their level so that this second reading is favorable before the president can proceed to the promulgation of this law. »
The participants also made a commitment to strengthen their activism in the promotion, defense and protection of the rights of women and girls in the DRC by supporting the promulgation of the said law by the President of the Republic, but also to renew their commitment to the fight against sexual violence and impunity in the DRC.
From this event emerges a glimmer of hope for survivors of sexual violence. Let’s hope that parliamentarians will adopt this law which would undoubtedly make it possible to limit the inhuman treatment to which they are regularly confronted.