A group of UN human rights experts called on the authorities [press release] of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Thursday to revoke what they consider an unjustified ban on protests in Kinshasa, the DRC capital. The statement says the rights to protest are fundamental and that, “[t]he 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.”

Last month a delegation from the International Criminal Court (ICC) [official website] traveled [JURIST report] to the DRC to initiate a five-day plan to discourage violent protests ignited by the nation’s postponed election. In September UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein [official website] warned [JURIST report] that conditions in the DRC will deteriorate unless there is accountability for the atrocities against civilians. Zeid and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon [official website] expressed concern [JURIST report] in April over reports coming out of the DRC regarding an apparent government security operation in an area of southern Brazzaville known as the Pool.