**Fatshimetrie: A legal aid law welcomed by experts**
During the Estates General of Justice currently being held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, a proposal to establish a law on legal aid and legal assistance was warmly applauded by the participants. Mr. Michel Shebele, National Bar President, presented this recommendation as part of his presentation entitled “What legal aid system for the DRC”.
This initiative aims to offer legal assistance to the most deprived, such as women market gardeners who encounter financial difficulties in accessing justice. The idea is that these individuals can benefit from the help of qualified lawyers to assert their rights. According to Mr. Shebele, legal assistance is of crucial importance in the promotion and protection of human rights, by guaranteeing equitable access to justice for all.
The various presentations made during these Estates General addressed diverse and essential themes. Among these, it is worth highlighting the intervention of Dieudonné Kamuleta on the correction of material errors in the context of electoral disputes, that of Me Irène Essambo on access to justice for people living with disabilities and vulnerable people, as well as the presentation by Professor Eddy Mwanzo on nationality and statelessness.
The central question of these general meetings, “Why is Congolese justice sick”, gives rise to a deep and essential reflection for the improvement of the country’s judicial system. The debates and proposals made during these meetings represent a unique opportunity to rethink and strengthen the functioning of justice in the DRC.
The work, which takes place from November 6 to 13, offers a platform for exchanges and sharing between actors in the judicial world, with the aim of proposing concrete and innovative solutions to meet current challenges. All the interventions underline the importance of guaranteeing equal access to justice, in particular for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged populations.
In conclusion, the development of a law on legal aid and judicial assistance represents a significant step forward in the field of justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It embodies an essential step to consolidate the rule of law and guarantee the protection of the fundamental rights of all citizens.