This December, an alarming situation shook consciences in Kindu. 36 children in conflict with the law were discovered detained in conditions described as inhuman at the region’s juvenile court. This critical situation was denounced by Raphaël Upelele Lokenga, executive secretary of the NGO Haki za Binadam, which fights for the defense of human rights.
During his visit to the prison environment, Raphaël Upelele, alongside the director of the central prison of Kindu, noted deplorable detention conditions for these young detainees. Among them are even five children aged only 13, in violation of the law which prohibits the detention of children of this age. The NGO reported that these children sleep on the ground, on paving stones or shredded mats, and that they are sometimes mixed with adults. In addition, five of them are sick, suffering from tuberculosis, but do not receive adequate care. Their meals are limited to a monotonous ration of cassava paste and cassava leaves, a single meal per day.
Faced with this critical situation, the NGO Haki za Binadam has launched an urgent appeal to the judicial authorities to prioritize non-custodial measures, in accordance with the best interests of the children. Raphaël Upelele stressed the importance of respecting the fundamental rights of minors in conflict with the law and guaranteeing them dignified living conditions, even in the event of detention.
This situation highlights the dysfunctions of the judicial and prison system in the DRC, recalling the urgent need to improve the conditions of detention of children in conflict with the law. It is imperative to guarantee respect for the rights of these young people, to provide them with adequate treatment and to offer them a second chance to positively reintegrate into society. Now is the time for action, so that children in conflict with the law can regain their dignity and hope for a better future.