The ICJ has forwarded to the Special Rapporteur on the rights to the freedom of assembly and association information concerning recent attacks on peaceful demonstrators and against political activists in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In a statement prepared for an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights to the freedom of assembly and association, Mr Maina Kiai, the ICJ drew attention to recent attacks in Angola and the DRC, many of which have resulted in indiscriminate assaults, arbitrary arrests, unlawful detention, and in some instances extrajudicial killings, with perpetrators enjoying impunity. Citing recent examples of such attacks, the ICJ called on the Special Rapporteur and the Council to urge the governments of Angola and the DRC to:
- Put an end to such attacks;
- Ensure adherence to fair trial rights in cases where demonstrators are charged with offences; and
- investigate, and where appropriate prosecute, all those responsible for human rights violations against those exercising their rights to the rights to freedom of assembly and association.
The statement was to have been delivered under Item 3 (promotion and protection of all human rights) of the agenda of the Human Rights Council’s 23rd regular session (27 May to 14 June 2013). Due to restrictions in the time available under the debate, the oral statement could not be delivered during the session of the Council.
Angola-DRC-HRC23-OralStatementFOE-LegalSubmission-2013 (download ICJ oral statement in full)