Fatshimetrie, 17 September 2024 (ACP) – During an information and exchange workshop organized by the Congolese Center for Sustainable Development Law (CODED) in Fatshimetrie, the revision of the law on the protection and responsibility of human rights defenders was at the center of the debates.
The Executive Director of CODED, Me Eric Kassongo, highlighted the flaws of Law No. 023/027 of June 15, 2023, arguing that it restricts and criminalizes the action of human rights defenders. According to him, this legislation stigmatizes and threatens the freedom of defenders, rather than protecting them. In particular, Articles 26, 27 and 28 were singled out for their tendency to penalize the activities of defenders, forcing them to sometimes unrealizable requirements.
For his part, Me Olivier Ndoole of the NGO Alerte Congolaise pour l’Environnement et les Droits de l’Homme (ACEDH) added his voice to the need to revise certain articles, due to the difficulties encountered by defenders, especially in rural areas. The provisions of articles 2, 3, 7, 11, 26, 27 and 28 were identified as problematic and requiring in-depth revision.
The participants agreed to formulate challenges, recommendations and strategies to develop a draft law amending the existing law, to be presented to the Presidency of the Republic. The objective is to obtain the support of the Head of State for an adequate revision of the legislation in force.
After this stage in Fatshimetrie, the NGO CODED plans to raise awareness and popularize the law in the province of Lualaba, starting with the city of Kolwezi. This initiative aims to strengthen the protection of human rights and environmental defenders by ensuring legal conditions that are favorable to their action.
In short, this workshop highlighted the gaps in the current legislation and stressed the urgency of reform to ensure real protection of human rights defenders in the Democratic Republic of Congo.