The Association africaine de defense des droits de l'homme (ASADHO) has concluded its project titled "Engaging Youth in Promoting and Protecting Civic Space in the Democratic Republic of Congo." The project, implemented with technical and financial support from international NGO 11.11.11, aimed to strengthen youth engagement in civic promotion and protection of civic space in the DRC. Launched in May, the project targeted young people from student and citizen movements.
During a press conference held to mark the project's closure, Patrick Nsasa, head of monitoring public institution activities, outlined several key interventions. These included diagnostics, training, digital campaigns, legislative inquiries, youth women's participation, and institutional engagements. The goal was not only to train activists but also to enhance their capacity to act in a structured, documented, and responsible manner, respecting democratic civics principles.
The project focused on promoting responsible citizen action, prioritizing non-violence, dialogue, fact documentation, structured mobilization, alliance building, and recourse to institutional mechanisms. Access to public information and public demonstrations, fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution, were central to the project's advocacy efforts. A new legislative approach was envisaged to revive the bill on public demonstrations, initiated by former national deputy Delly Sesanga in 2014.
According to Blanchard Buka Mbaka, member of the citizen movement Vici-RDC, the bill on access to public information was a key advocacy dossier in the project's final phase. The bill, currently with national deputy Jacques Djoli Eseng'Ekeli, was being enriched within three National Assembly commissions before its return to plenary session. The project also involved 13 citizen movements in diagnostics across seven provinces, including Kinshasa, Kongo-Central, Equateur, and Sud-Kivu.
The project yielded several outcomes, including training 28 young people on democracy, media, non-violence, dialogue, and alliance building. A digital campaign organized as part of the project garnered over 20,000 views. A student forum brought together 52 participants, including 31 women, who made significant contributions to the initiative on citizen participation and civic space protection in the DRC.
The project's closure marks a significant step in promoting youth engagement in civic activities in the DRC. ASADHO's efforts aim to create a more vibrant and inclusive civic space, enabling young people to contribute to the country's democratic development. The project's impact is expected to be felt in the coming months as the trained youth and citizen movements continue to advocate for civic rights and responsibilities.
The collaboration between ASADHO and 11.11.11 demonstrates the importance of partnerships in promoting democracy and human rights in the DRC. The project's success highlights the potential for civil society organizations to drive positive change in the country, particularly in the area of civic engagement and protection of civic space.
Key points
- - The project "Engaging Youth in Promoting and Protecting Civic Space in the Democratic Republic of Congo" was launched in May and concluded in September 2026. - The project involved 13 citizen movements and trained 28 young people on democracy, media, non-violence, dialogue, and alliance building. - The project's advocacy efforts focused on access to public information and public demonstrations, fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
