Congo (Rep. Dem.)

When asked to provide more context about who was particularly unlikely to enjoy their right to education in 2023, our respondents mentioned all of the following:

• Human rights laws exist but are not respected due to bad governance
• People who work for the government are the only people protected from economic and social rights violations
• Indigenous populations live in very remote and insecure areas where the government does not make sufficient efforts to guarantee their rights
• In North Kivu, many Indigenous people live in displaced persons camps in very poor conditions
• In East DRC, many Indigenous people have left their lands and are living displaced without assistance
• There is no assistance for older people
• People with disabilities are marginalised by the government who makes no effort to implement conditions that would allow them to enjoy their human rights
• Millions of people are displaced in North Kivu because of war, and conditions are extremely poor in displacement camps
• Street children in Goma

When asked to provide more context about who was particularly unlikely to enjoy their right to food in 2023, our respondents mentioned all of the following:

• Human rights laws exist but are not respected due to bad governance
• People who work for the government are the only people protected from economic and social rights violations
• Indigenous populations live in very remote and insecure areas where the government does not make sufficient efforts to guarantee their rights
• In North Kivu, many Indigenous people live in displaced persons camps in very poor conditions
• In East DRC, many Indigenous people have left their lands and are living displaced without assistance
• There is no assistance for older people
• People with disabilities are marginalised by the government who makes no effort to implement conditions that would allow them to enjoy their human rights
• People in prisons are left to die
• Millions of people are displaced in North Kivu because of war and conditions are extremely poor in displacement camps
• Street children in Goma
• Military widows

When asked to provide more context about who was particularly unlikely to enjoy their right to health in 2023, our respondents mentioned all of the following:

• People with specific health conditions, such as those who have recovered from Ebola, due to free healthcare only being available for HIV but no other health conditions
• Human rights laws exist but are not respected due to bad governance
• People who work for the government are the only people protected from economic and social rights violations
• Indigenous populations live in very remote and insecure areas where the government does not make sufficient efforts to guarantee their rights
• In North Kivu, many Indigenous people live in displaced persons camps in very poor conditions
• In East DRC, many Indigenous people have to abandon their lands and are living displaced without assistance
• There is no assistance for older people
• People with disabilities are marginalised by the government who makes no effort to implement conditions that would allow them to enjoy their human rights
• People in prisons are left to die
• Millions of people are displaced in North Kivu because of war and conditions are extremely poor in displacement camps
• Street children in Goma
• Military widows

When asked to provide more context about who was particularly unlikely to enjoy their right to housing in 2023, our respondents mentioned all of the following:

• Human rights laws exist but are not respected due to bad governance
• People who work for the government are the only people protected from economic and social rights violations
• Indigenous populations live in very remote and insecure areas where the government does not make sufficient efforts to guarantee their rights
• In North Kivu, many Indigenous people live in displaced persons camps in very poor conditions
• In East DRC, many Indigenous people have to abandon their lands and are living displaced without assistance
• There is no assistance for older people
• People with disabilities are marginalised by the government who makes no effort to implement conditions that would allow them to enjoy their human rights
• People in prisons are left to die
• Millions of people are displaced in North-Kivu because of war and conditions are extremely poor in displacement camps
• Street children in Goma
• Military widows

When asked to provide more context about who was especially vulnerable to arbitrary or political arrest and detention by government agents in 2023, our respondents mentioned all of the following:

• All people are considered to be associated with a militia or rebel group at some point, due to constant armed conflicts
• Some Indigenous practices are accused of breaking conservation laws and regulations, Indigenous people are deprived of their lands
• Tutsi and Hutu Congolese people, especially in the Masisi and Rutshuru territories
• Sects suspected of associating with the M23 and RDF groups are treated with violence, arrested, and detained
• Members of the mystical-religious group Uwezo Wa Neno were killed or arrested for participating in the anti-MONUSCO protest in Goma
• Anyone with Rwandan nationality is systematically suspected of collaborating with the M23 group, especially in the Masisi and Rutshuru territories
• Communities around Virunga National Park are arrested and risk being killed due to conflicts with the Park Administration
• Men and boys are regularly accused, without evidence, of collaborating with armed groups or other criminal activity
• Journalists in Kinshasa and East DRC are arrested and killed for doing their jobs, especially if they are reporting bad governance
• Advocates are detained for denouncing violations, corruption, and embezzlement of public funds, and for demanding human rights
• Dozens of human rights advocates are still in detention
• People who oppose the government or those in power
• Members of citizen's movements, such as LUCHA, or political opposition parties are harassed, imprisoned, or assassinated due to their opinions
• People with low incomes are more likely to suffer injustices
• Academics are at risk due to their involvement in political structures or civil society organisations
• Military personnel suspected of collaborating with M23 or RDF groups are arrested, detained, and tortured, especially in North-Kivu
• Sex workers are exploited by militias and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC)

When asked to provide more context about who was especially vulnerable to disappearance by government agents in 2023, our respondents mentioned all of the following:

• Tutsi and Hutu Congolese people, especially in the Masisi and Rutshuru territories
• Anyone with Rwandan nationality is systematically suspected of collaborating with the M23 group, especially in the Masisi and Rutshuru territories
• People who oppose the government or those in power
• Sex workers are exploited by militias and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC)

When asked to provide more context about who was especially vulnerable to death penalty executions by government agents in 2023, our respondents mentioned all of the following:

• There have been cases of people being condemned to death, despite the moratorium on the death penalty

When asked to provide more context about who was especially vulnerable to extrajudicial killing by government agents in 2023, our respondents mentioned all of the following:

• Tutsi and Hutu Congolese people, especially in the Masisi and Rutshuru territories
• People of the Wazalendo sect in Goma were arrested or killed by the government’s military for protesting the presence of MONUSCO, the United Nations peacekeeping force in DRC
• Tribes are massacred, in certain cases to the point of their place of origin being entirely depopulated
• Members of the mystical-religious group Uwezo Wa Neno were killed or arrested for participating in the anti-MONUSCO protest in Goma
• Communities around Virunga National Park are arrested, and risk being killed due to conflicts with the Park Administration
• All women face gender-based violence and harassment
• Women are victims of sexual violence and rape by men from rebel groups, militias, and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC)
• Journalists in Kinshasa and East DRC are arrested and killed for doing their jobs, especially if they are reporting bad governance
• Advocates are killed for denouncing torture and ill-treatment by rebel groups such as M23
• People who oppose the government or those in power
• Sex workers are exploited by militias and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC)
• People who publicly identify as LGBTQIA+ risk their lives

When asked to provide more context about who was especially vulnerable to restrictions on their rights to assembly and association by the government or its agents in 2023, our respondents mentioned all of the following:

• Rwandan-speaking people are the target of hate speech, including from government agents, and are prevented from expressing themselves and freely associating
• Women's organisations are critically underfunded and under resourced
• Military widows
• Defending LGBTQIA+ rights is not tolerated, especially for human rights advocates and civil society organisations
• There are no shelters or adapted care for older people
• Members of citizens’ movements or political opposition parties are harassed, imprisoned, or assassinated due to their opinions
• Meetings and reports monitoring human rights are frowned upon by the authorities
• Protests by internally displaced people are restricted

When asked to provide more context about who was especially vulnerable to restrictions on their rights to opinion and expression by government agents in 2023, our respondents mentioned all of the following:

• People who publicly identify as LGBTQIA+ risk their lives
• Rwandan-speaking people are the target of hate speech, including from government agents, and are prevented from expressing themselves and freely associating
• Military widows
• Defending LGBTQIA+ rights is not tolerated, especially for human rights advocates and civil society organisations
• Journalists risk being arrested for speaking out on political issues such as elections or the assassination of politicians
• Human rights advocates and members of social movements are arrested for demanding improvement of rights conditions, such as the organisation of elections, income inequality, embezzlement of public funds, and peace and security in the East of the country,
• Meetings and reports monitoring human rights are frowned upon by the authorities
• Members of citizen's movements or political opposition parties are harassed, imprisoned, or assassinated due to their opinions
• Criticising the government or people in power leads being threatened or killed
• Women's lack of empowerment rights is considered to be part of the culture
• Protests by internally displaced people are restricted

When asked to provide more context about who was especially vulnerable to restrictions on their political participation by the government or its agents in 2023, our respondents mentioned all of the following:

• Internally displaced people are accused of being undocumented foreigners, and excluded from political activities
• Women in political parties are manipulated
• Women's organisations are critically underfunded and under resourced
• Women's lack of empowerment rights is considered to be part of the culture
• Military widows
• Men and boys are easily manipulated by politicians
• Children have no autonomy and their consent is not considered in decision-making
• Members of citizen's movements or political opposition parties are harassed, imprisoned, or assassinated due to their opinions
• People with opposing political views are labelled ‘traitors’ and forced to flee the country
• Detainees' rights are not considered or respected
• Migrants have no political rights
• Journalists risk being arrested for speaking out on political issues such as elections or the assassination of politicians