DRC Human Rights Commission defends independence amid status risks

Paul Nsapu Mukulu, president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s National Human Rights Commission (CNDH), has reaffirmed the institution's independence before the National Assembly. This statement comes amid a recommendation from the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) to downgrade the CNDH from ‘Status A’ to ‘Status B’.

Status A signifies full compliance with the Paris Principles regarding independence and pluralism, while Status B indicates partial compliance. Concerns raised regarding the potential downgrade include the CNDH's effective independence, funding, operational capacity, and transparency in selecting commissioners. Nsapu emphasized that sufficient financial and human resources are essential for the commission to exercise its mandate without external instruction.

In a separate effort to strengthen human rights advocacy, the CNDH held a national conference in Kinshasa with civil society organizations, including religious groups, professional orders, and women's organizations. During the meeting, Nsapu highlighted the need to protect human rights defenders, particularly those working in conflict zones, and pledged to establish better mechanisms for documenting and monitoring threats against them.