Fatshimétrie: Diving into the heart of human rights issues in the DRC
While the Democratic Republic of Congo commemorated the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, a collective of human rights NGOs is sounding the alarm. Violations of citizens’ freedoms and fundamental rights, such as kidnappings, arbitrary arrests, repression of peaceful demonstrations and cases of physical and moral torture, cast a worrying shadow over the human rights situation in the country.
In this worrying context, the collective strongly calls on the Congolese government and invites it to set an example in terms of respecting international commitments. Maître Charlène Yangazo, spokesperson for the non-profit organization Outre Neuve, urges the international community and the United Nations to reconsider the recent election of the DRC to the Human Rights Council, unless concrete and immediate measures are taken to put an end to human rights violations in the country.
“The DRC must imperatively demonstrate that it is able to defend human rights on its territory before claiming to set an example on the international scale,” insists Ms. Yangazo. She thus calls on the Congolese authorities to put an end to human rights violations and to rigorously apply the provisions of the Constitution and national laws on the matter.
In an increasingly connected world where human rights violations know no borders, it is essential that each country assumes its responsibilities and respects the fundamental principles set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The international community must remain vigilant and strengthen monitoring mechanisms to ensure respect for human rights throughout the world.
Ultimately, protecting human rights cannot be an option but an obligation for every State. The commitment to respecting the dignity and freedoms of each individual must guide our actions and our vision of a more just and equitable future for all.