Mbandaka, October 31, 2024 – The Belgian NGO Citizens Network recently organized a conference-debate at the University of Mbandaka, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, on non-custodial measures. The objective of this event was to raise awareness among law students about the issues related to judicial procedures and violations of the rights of detainees.
Daniel Epanga, deputy head of the NGO’s Justice Reform Support Project, stressed the importance of training future lawyers and magistrates in preventive measures of freedoms. He highlighted the need to respect national and international legal procedures regarding preventive detention, in order to avoid any slippage and any infringement of the rights of the accused.
During the conference, a third-year law student, Otshi Banza Lemoini, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity he was given to better understand the legal provisions surrounding preventive detention. He regretted that some magistrates do not always respect these rules and prefer to take detention measures without complying with the requirements of the law.
The interventions of the provincial Minister of Justice, Me Marval Basilua, and the head of works Willy Baotolinga, provided clarifications on the legal texts and international instruments relating to preventive detention. These exchanges allowed the students to better understand the issues related to this subject and to consider avenues for improvement to guarantee respect for the fundamental rights of persons placed in detention.
In conclusion, this conference-debate was a valuable opportunity to raise awareness among the young generation of lawyers on the crucial issues of protecting the rights of individuals in the face of non-custodial measures. It also highlighted the importance of training justice actors to ensure the rigorous application of the rules and the protection of the fundamental rights of each person.