Tactics and tools for the protection
of Human Rights Defenders

In December 2009, the Human Rights Council organised the Universal Periodic Review of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This review consists to make an assessment of the general huamn rights situation in the country and encourage the government concerned to take some commitments to improve respect of human rights. Non Governmental Organisations are invited for this occasion to express their opinion and recommandations. AI made a strong report about different topics, and payed a particular attention to Human Rights Defenders situation. AI formulated 4 important recommandations about this topic.

(En décembre 2009, le Conseil des Droits de l’Homme des Nations Unies a organisé l’Examen Périodique Universel de la République Démocratique du Congo. Cet examen a pour but de dresser un bilan général sur la situation des droits de l’homme du pays, et ainsi, encourager le gouvernement concerné à prendre des engagements afin d’améliorer la situation des droits humains. A cette occasion, les Organisations Non Gouvernementales sont invitées à exprimer leur point de vue et formuler des recommandations. AI a élaboré un solide rapport sur différents thèmes se rapportant aux droits humains, en insistant sur la situation des Défenseurs des Droits Humains en RDC. AI a établi 4 recommandations importantes à ce sujet.)

In this submission, Amnesty International raises concerns about the disparities between the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Constitution and national laws as these affect human rights, and the wide gap between law and implementation. It also describes its concerns over widespread serious human rights violations, including impunity, unlawful killings and extrajudicial executions, sexual and gender-based violence, the recruitment and use of child soldiers, torture and ill-treatment in detention, political prisoners, detention without trial, enforced disappearance, violations against human rights defenders and violations of the right to freedom of expression.