Mbandaka, on 15 July 2014 – A round table initiated by the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office bringing together 35 state and non-state actors in Mbandaka, the provincial administrative center, to assess the implementation of the 9 July 2011 law on the criminalization of torture in the DR Congo, noticed that little progress was achieved thus far in this area, in this particular province..

Prior to the assessment, they all diagnosed the current situation on torture in the province. The assessment shows that acts of barbarism continue to be committed almost on a daily basis. Efforts to eradicate torture are hampered by impunity whose actors continue to assume higher positions; lack of whistleblowing by victims fearing retaliation, ignorance of laws and human rights by the population, persistence of discriminatory traditions.

Interactions between representatives of the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office and participants lead to a set of recommendations likely to reinforce the fight against torture in Equateur province. This is aimed to enhance the action of Justice in the province, especially through disseminating the law on the criminalization of torture in DRC, raising awareness of local population on their rights, training of Judiciary Police Officers, increasing number of round tables in the province, involving State in mobilizing resources to fight torture.

At the end of the discussions, participants including the provincial Minister for Justice and Human Rights, MONUSCO interim Chief/Equateur, the Commander of the FARDC third military region, provincial intelligence officers (ANR, DGM…), Police officers, civilian and military officers and human rights activists formulated recommendations to advance the fight against torture.

It is worth noting that the round table was held within the framework of the International Day in Support for the Victims of Torture commemorated on 26 June each year. As a prelude to the event, a radio program was broadcasted by Radio television Sarah (RTS) channel in Mbandaka, as part of the dissemination of the 9 July 2011 law on the criminalization of torture in DRC. It was hosted by the NGO Lawyers Without Borders and ’Association des Femmes Juristes du Congo (an association of Congolese female law specialists), with technical and financial support from BCNUDH/Equateur.

Jean-Tobie Okala/MONUSCO