During the 55th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Human Rights Research League delivered oral statements on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in connection with the General Debate on Item 4 as well as the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the DRC. In HRRL's first intervention, Tresor Maheshe Musole pointed to the political instrumentalization of refugees in the Great Lakes region of Africa as the backdrop to the war that is raging in the Eastern part of the DRC. HRRL is particularly concerned by recent reports of the recruitment of combatants in the middle of refugee camps. For the full statement, please see the video of the Oral Statement on UN Web TV. 

HRRL's second intervention voiced profound concerns in the face of the decision of the DRC government to remove the ban on the execution of the death penalty that had been announced on 9 February 2024. Such a reversal is contrary to Congolese law and represents a regression in the protection of human rights contrary to the principles proclaimed by the United Nations as well as regional human rights institutions, including the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights. For further details, please see the video of the Oral Statement on UN Web TV.