TransformDRC’s Human Rights Department has been hard at work over the last year representing underage children in prison; educating students, men, and women on their legal rights in the DRC; and raising student awareness about sexual violence in schools.
In the Courts:
In the DRC, children are arrested and placed in the Children’s Prison until an attorney can represent them. Since few families can afford an attorney, the children often languish in prison indefinitely. During the past year, Michael Isaac, TransformDRC’s Human Rights Department attorney, has taken on 15 pro bono cases to represent children. We rejoice that 13 of these boys have been returned to their families, while two are still awaiting a judge’s decision.
Bengi, an 11-year-old student, is one of the children TransformDRC helped. He was abandoned by his parents at birth and raised by his grandparents. He was arrested with a friend for trespassing in a movie theater late at night and spent about a month in the Makala Central Prison. Because of his age, TransformDRC advocated for him. The charges were dropped, and Bengi was reunited with his family.
In the Schools:
Sexual violence is a scourge that plagues Congolese society, particularly in schools where students, both boys and girls, can be victims of abuse committed by their teachers or classmates. Congolese law levels severe penalties for those found guilty of such crimes.
The best way to prevent sexual violence is through education, which TransformDRC provides to youth. One student commented: “I learned many things in this training that I didn’t understand before. I am going to raise awareness on these topics among my friends.”
In the Community:
As part of the international celebration of the rights of women and girls, the Human Rights Department held special trainings for men and women. The topics included peacebuilding as well as “Strengthening the rights: justice and empowerment of women and girls for social cohesion.” This particular training identified major challenges women and girls face such as poverty, forced weddings, street children, cultural pressures that devalue women, and discrimination in access to education and employment, among others.
In Total:
TransformDRC represented 15 children before the Children’s Court and trained 127 men, women, teens, and children on human rights issues in the DRC.
The Human Rights Department at TransformDRC remains committed to building a more just and equitable society founded on strong spiritual and human values.
Get Involved:
Give: Please consider making an additional donation to help us sustain our efforts in Eastern DR Congo. Give here.
Pray: The Transform DRC staff asks that you continue your prayers for peace in their region, for their families, and that they will be a light shining Jesus to others in this difficult time.
Thank you for making this work possible.