The Consortium FDAPID-ACEDH has urged the immediate and unconditional release of eight environmental defenders detained in Isiro, the capital of Haut-Uélé province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In a statement released on September 21 in Kinshasa, the organization denounced their arrest and requested intervention from competent authorities. According to the Consortium, no evidence has been presented to link the eight defenders to any criminal activity.
The eight defenders, whose names have not been disclosed, were arrested on an unspecified date and have been held in detention since then. The Consortium FDAPID-ACEDH has expressed concern over the arrest and intimidation of individuals engaged in environmental protection and defense of community rights. The organization has called on authorities to guarantee the necessary conditions for the exercise of these activities.
In its statement, the Consortium formulated several recommendations to judicial and environmental authorities. To the Minister of State, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, it requested the release of the eight defenders and respect for fundamental guarantees related to any deprivation of liberty, including the right to defense, a fair trial, and the presumption of innocence.
The Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development, and New Climate Economy has been called upon to implement mechanisms provided by national and international legal instruments to ensure the protection of human rights and environmental defenders. The Consortium has also requested that the security of eco-guards facing threats or intimidation be taken into account.
The Superior Military Auditor near the Military Court of Tshopo and Haut-Uélé has been asked to establish the circumstances, motives, and conditions of the arrest and detention of the eight defenders. The Consortium FDAPID-ACEDH has also pleaded for the strengthening of mechanisms to protect environmental and land rights defenders to prevent acts of reprisal related to their activities.
The detention of the eight environmental defenders has raised concerns about the protection of human rights and environmental activists in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Consortium FDAPID-ACEDH has emphasized the need for authorities to ensure the safety and security of defenders engaged in environmental protection and community rights defense.
The situation highlights the challenges faced by environmental defenders in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the exploitation of natural resources and environmental degradation are significant concerns. The Consortium FDAPID-ACEDH's call for the release of the detained defenders and the protection of environmental activists underscores the need for authorities to prioritize human rights and environmental protection.
Key points
- The Consortium FDAPID-ACEDH has called for the immediate release of eight environmental defenders detained in Isiro, DR Congo.
- The organization has expressed concern over the arrest and intimidation of individuals engaged in environmental protection and defense of community rights.
- The detention of the defenders has raised concerns about the protection of human rights and environmental activists in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
