Expressing concern over what they called an “unjustified” ban on protests in Kinshasa, the capital of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a group of UN human rights experts on Thursday called on the authorities to protect the fundamental rights of the people and to revoke the prohibition.
“The rights to freedom of expression, and freedom of peaceful assembly and of association are fundamental rights guaranteed by international law. These rights can only be restricted in very specific and narrowly defined circumstances,” the experts said in a joint statement issued by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
According to the statement, the ban was imposed in September amid social discontent over delayed presidential elections, which promoted a series of large demonstrations.
It said protests were brutally suppressed by security forces and reportedly leaving dozens of people dead and injured.
“This ban is the fourth of its kind in the country since 2015. Two such prohibitions remain in force, affecting Kalemie in Tanganyika province and Lubumbashi in Haut Katanga province.
“It is clear that the current situation in the DRC does not justify a general ban on demonstrations in several cities. In fact, given that the country is in a hotly disputed election period, people should be given more space, not less, to express their democratic freedoms,” the experts stated.
The joint statement was signed by Mr. Maina Kiai, UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Mr. David Kaye, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and Mr. Michel Forst, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.
Source PANA
