Justice in action: 10 years of fighting against impunity in the DRC!

For over 10 years, TRIAL International has been a central actor of the fight against impunity for international crimes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). With your support, we have been able to carry out an ambitious program, strengthening the capacities of local actors and offering a path to justice for thousands of victims of serious crimes. This anniversary is an opportunity to look back on the pivotal moments of our commitment in the DRC.

In 2014, the opening of our office in Bukavu, South Kivu, marked the beginning of our active presence in the DRC. That year, we trained local lawyers and NGOs on best practices in the defense of human rights so they could more effectively represent victims before Congolese courts. This first step was decisive in laying the foundations for a sustainable strategy to fight impunity.

After a first trial in August 2016, several landmark cases have strengthened our impact on the ground. The Kavumu case, where a group of 11 militiamen, led by a provincial deputy, was tried for crimes of sexual violence perpetrated against dozens of children in the village of Kavumu between 2013 and 2016, was of particular significance. Thanks to the mobilization of our team, and your donations, a historic conviction was issued in December 2017. The deputy and his men were found responsible for systematic rapes constituting crimes against humanity; a major victory in the fight against conflictrelated sexual violence in the DRC. This trial, which made headlines in the international media, not only brought justice to the victims, but was also momentous in that, for the first time in the DRC, it convicted a sitting member of the Parliament.

Equally emblematic was the conviction in September 2020 of Ntabo Ntaberi Sheka, a notorious militia leader in North Kivu, for war crimes, including massacres of civilians and mass rape. The conviction was issued following a rigorous investigation and a two-year trial. It was a critical victory for the recognition of the rights of the hundreds of victims involved. It also highlighted the credibility of judicial authorities in a region ravaged by violence, as they demonstrated their ability to handle a very complex legal case despite serious security concerns.

The Sheka trial in a few pictures…

 
©TRIAL International

In March 2021, the judgment of the Nsumbu case, the first international crimes case in the Kasai region, was another major breakthrough. This trial, which took place in Kasai-Central, saw the conviction of militiamen for murder, torture, pillaging and kidnapping as war crimes. This was the first time that serious crimes linked to the «Kamuina Nsapu» conflict that devastated this region between 2016 and 2018 were punished; sending a strong signal to victims and those responsible for violence.

Furthermore, in January 2022, we reached an important milestone with the opening of our office in Kananga, Kasai-Central, expanding our presence in the DRC and enabling us to respond more directly to the needs of victims and civil society in this region. This new office has made it possible to strengthen collaboration with local judicial authorities and scale up trainings for local lawyers and magistrates.

Acknowledging that national reconciliation requires recognition of past crimes, we wish to support the implementation of adequate and inclusive transitional justice mechanisms that allow victims to obtain truth, justice and reparation. To do this, we work closely with affected communities and local institutions recently established for this purpose, such as the Provincial Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission in Kasai-Central and the National Fund for Reparations for Victims of Serious Crimes (FONAREV).

To date, and thanks to your support, we have facilitated access to justice for approximately
9,900 victims, including more than 4,900 women and 1,700 victims of sexual violence,
before national and international courts.

In just ten years, more than 30 trials have been conducted,
with more than 2,000 victims obtaining favorable decisions.

Despite progress, many challenges remain in the DRC. Many international crimes remain unpunished, particularly those committed before 2002, due to the lack of adequate mechanisms. The slowness of the judicial system, political interference and the insufficient quality of investigations compromise access to justice for many survivors. With the withdrawal of the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC in 2024, the need to strengthen local capacities is more urgent than ever. Your continuous support is essential to overcome these obstacles and ensure that every victim can obtain justice.

Thanks to you, we will be able to continue training lawyers, support and conduct investigations, and provide legal assistance so that more victims can access the justice they deserve. We sincerely thank you for your past commitment and hope to be able to count further on your generosity to write the next chapter in the fight against impunity.

With all our gratitude,

Daniele Perissi
Head of DRC Program