On this page, you will find:
To find organisations working for LGBTQI+ rights, visit our Democratic Republic of Congo LGBTQI+ Resources page.
For Democratic Republic of Congo country of information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents visit our Democratic Republic of Congo COI page.
Refugee protection
Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by DRC.
The following sections contain information on the most important international treaties and agreements of which DRC is signatory, as well as national legislation relevant to the protection of refugees.
The DRC is party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol (hereinafter the 1951 Convention). The country is also party to the 1969 African Union Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa. The DRC also ratified the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (the Kampala Convention) in November 2014.
On 15 June 2022, the Cabinet Council adopted a draft decree on the creation of a statelessness determination procedure. The draft is now pending final adoption by the Council of Ministers. It is an important step towards ensuring that stateless persons can be recognized and access protection.
The policy framework and institutional model of the Democratic Republic of Congo is generally inclusive towards refugees, symbolising a history of hospitality rooting from the country’s treatment of refugees long before the it’s ratification of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. For decades, DRC has maintained an “open-door policy” to refugees, welcoming on its territory hundreds of thousands of people fleeing conflict and violence from neighbouring countries.
In 2002, the DRC adopted a national refugee law, establishing the Commission Nationale pour les Réfugiés – the National Refugee Commission (CNR) to process asylum applications and ensure the protection of refugees. The Government of DRC, through CNR, has the primary responsibility for ensuring access to territory, the legal and physical protection of refugees in the DRC, and the civilian and humanitarian character of asylum. UNHCR and CNR work closely on all of these, with a focus on the Refugee Status Determination system and on physical safety (source Democratic Republic of the Congo Country Refugee Response Plan).
The context and history of forced displacement in the DRC is not simple, and contains policy tendencies and priorities regarding Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), stateless groups and former refugee (returnee) nationals, many of whom live in the same locations as the refugee populations and experience the same social, economic, security and civil challenges. Large groups of refugees have been displaced more than once inside and outside of DRC, causing an involutary commute between their country of origin and the host community depending on the security situation and its fluctuations.
Legal aid organisations
Facebook
Address: Ville d’Uvira, Sud-Kivu
Tel: +(243) 81 32 01 942
Contact person: Baudouin Kipaka
Email: archedalliance@yahoo.fr
Arche d’Alliance monitors, documents and carries out research on at-risk children, human rights violations, gender-based violence and on socio-economic rights. Arche d’Alliance works in eastern Congo in support of human rights and advocacy for victims of human rights violations, war crimes, and other injustices. Their mandate is to contribute to and rebuild a “culture of peace” in Eastern Congo and defend human rights in the region. Their specific programmes include the provision of free legal consul to disadvantaged populations (children forcibly or unlawfully detained, wrongfully accused and detained persons, victims of sexual violence, former child soldiers, those living with HIV/AIDS, and refugees, etc). They work to popularize the judicial instruments available to citizens in order to bring perpetrators of violence and crimes against humanity to justice; observe, investigate, and report on widespread violations of human rights in our community, and respond with the appropriate judicial processes; aid the community with peaceful conflict transformation; and give support to legislation favouring reform in Congolese law in order to provide an atmosphere protective of human rights for all Congolese persons.
GOME: 81, Avenue La Corniche, Quartier Volcans
Tel.: +243 (0) 8 14 57 18 43
Email: rdc-cpr1@asf.be
KINSHASA: Immeuble Congo Fer 1er niveau Avenue Colonnel Ebeya 15/17 Kinshasa/Gombe
Tel: +257 22 24 16 77 or +257 22 24 63 35
Email: rdc-caf@asf.be
MBANDAKA: 17, avenue Mobutu, Commune de Mbandaka
Email: rdc-ali@asf.be
Avocats Sans Frontières (ASF), founded in 1992 in Brussels, is an international NGO specialising in promoting access to justice and the defence of human rights. The organisation fights against societal injustices and promotes the principle of the rule of law based on human rights.
From Kinshasa to Tunis, from Bangui to Kampala, ASF contribute to:
- Develop the power of action of populations;
- Strengthen the capacities of actors in access to justice (magistrates, court clerks, lawyers, paralegals, social workers, community leaders, etc.) to better support those subject to trial;
- Promote legislative reforms for a better respect of human rights.
Website
Address: Im. Botour Apt. 5 C/Gombe, 861 Kinshasa
Tel: +243 98 20 93 18
Email: franckamunga@yahoo.fr
Droits Humains Sans Frontières works for the defence and promotion of human rights, for democracy and community development; towards peaceful conflict resolution and peace building in local communities and states in conflicts around the Great Lakes Region through mediation and reconciliation; promotion of gender equity through research and publication with research partners; promoting new information technology and communication for educational and social development; and fight against HIV / AIDS through health and reproductive education. DHSF provide free legal aid for the poor and needy; they conduct training on human rights, international humanitarian law, democracy, conflict resolution and the political participation of youth and women in countries in transition; and conducts research on peace and the peaceful resolution of conflicts in the Great Lakes region, on refugees and IDPs.
Opening hours: Every day from Monday to Saturday 8am – 4pm. There is no need to take an appointment.
Foundation People for Peace and Defense of Human Rights changed name to Global Refugee Leaders Forum. Previously based in Uganda, they are now based in DRC but still represented in Uganda through individuals. They offer legal assistance to asylum seekers and refugees (during the refugee status determination process, or through representation in court). They also do research and advocacy on various refugee issues and empower refugees about their rights and responsibilities. Moreover, they hold information sessions on refugee issues and refugee capacity building in leadership.
Address: N° 94 ISIRO Street, Nyamianda Quarter, Uvira City, South – Kivu Province, in DR CONGO
Tel: +243994020783
Email: afpdeorg@yahoo.fr
A feminine local organisation of Congolese women which supports the promotion and the protection of woman, young girls and children in the South Kivu province, democratic republic of Congo. The organization was created by the militants’ woman at KILIBA city in October 16 the, 1999 with the goal of helping women and children victims of wars, displacement and refugees living in hard situation and contributes to the improving of their social, health and economic conditions.
Website
Address: 6729, Av.de l’ OUA Ngaliema, BP 7248, Kinshasa,DRC, Congo, The Democratic Republic
Tel.: +243 99 60 41 000
Email: CODKI@unhcr.org
The UNHCR DRC Country Office provides protection and assistance for all those forced to flee and the people at risk of statelessness within the country. UNHCR works in close collaboration with the DRC government to find long-term solutions to forced displacement and strengthen refugees’ self-reliance, IDPs, and host communities.
Organisations providing other support to refugees
Website
Address: 237/1 Avenue Major Vangu, Commune de Lubumbashi, Ville de Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo
Tel. +243 (0) 81 754 17 07, +243 (0) 995 374 969
Email: spearl@cvt.org
In September 2006, CVT started operations in Katanga Territory with programme sites in Pweto and Moba and an administrative office in Lubumbashi. CVT provides direct mental health services to survivors of torture and war trauma and builds local capacity in mental health.
Psychotherapeutic services are provided by professional clinical staff as well as the trained, supervised national staff, both in individual and group sessions. CVT staff also provides couples therapy.
Website
Email: james.curtis@drc.ngo or michel.paradis@drc.ngo
Danish Refugee Council in the Democratic Republic of Congo provides multi-sectoral assistance to refugees, internally displaced persons and vulnerable host populations affected by conflict. The aim is to reduce immediate protection risks and household vulnerabilities through a rapid and relevant humanitarian response that strengthens people’s protective environment. Danish Refugee Council’s priority is to address the most urgent needs of communities through implementing protection activities, providing safe water, hygiene and sanitation, safe shelter (emergency and transitional), food security and improved livelihoods.
Website
Address: OIM République démocratique du Congo
372 Avenue Colonel Mondjiba – Kinshasa Ngaliema
Batiment 58 Concession Utex/Immotex
République démocratique du Congo
Tel: +243 81 032 55 33
Email: iomkinshasa@iom.int
Website
Address in the UK: Linton House, 39-51 Highgate Road, London, NW5 1RT
Tel: +44(0)207 916 9276
General enquiries email: info@warchild.org.uk
Programmes enquiries email: africa.progammes@warchild.org.uk
Address in Canada: 489 College St. Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario, M6G 1A5
Phone:1-866-927-2445
Email: info@warchild.ca
Address in the Netherlands: Helmholtzstraat 61-G , 1098 LE Amsterdam
Phone:+31-20-422-7777
Email: info@warchild.nl
Address of War Child Holland in DR Congo: 5 Avenue Cécile Horizon, Commune d’Ibanda, Bukavu
Democratic Republic of Congo LGBTQI+ Resources
Find organisations working for refugee LGBTQI+ rights in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Democratic Republic of Congo COI
Find Democratic Republic of Congo country of information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents.
We are always looking to expand the resources on our platform. If you know about relevant resources, or you are aware of organisations and/or individuals to include in our directories, please get in touch.
Last updated April 2023