Fatshimetrie, a new permanent monitoring committee for preventive detention was recently established in Mbandaka to combat violations of detainees’ rights. The launch of this initiative by the NGO RCN Justice & Democracy as part of the 2nd Justice Reform Support Program marks a crucial step in the protection of human rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
During the opening session, participants highlighted the cruel reality of detention conditions at the central prison of Mbandaka. Inhumane practices, illegal detentions and unjustified delays in the processing of court cases were highlighted. Adelin Mambembe, acting as 1st President of the Court of Appeal of Equateur, highlighted the importance of this committee in addressing these dysfunctions.
The members of the committee will be composed of judicial actors, representatives of civil society and the provincial executive. This diversity of stakeholders will ensure a comprehensive and balanced vision of the issues related to preventive detention. The provincial Minister of Justice, Maître Marval Lotsekelami, pledged to fully support the actions of the committee, stressing the need for immediate intervention to ensure respect for the rights of pretrial detainees.
The first meeting of the committee is scheduled for this Monday, October 14. The main objective will be the harmonization of the actions to be undertaken and the adoption of clear and effective operating regulations. This meeting will mark the beginning of close collaboration between the various actors involved in the fight against human rights violations in prisons.
In conclusion, the launch of the permanent monitoring committee for pretrial detention in Mbandaka is a crucial step in the promotion of justice and respect for fundamental rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is now up to the members of the committee to translate their commitments into concrete actions to ensure a real improvement in detention conditions and respect for the rights of pretrial detainees.