JHR has been operating in the DRC since 2007 with the aim of strengthening the capacity of local media to effectively cover human rights issues and denounce systemic corruption.
Starting from small-scale interventions confined to the capital city, Kinshasa, JHR’s initiative in DRC has grown to include a network of a dozen independent press clubs that span several provinces across the country. This network works daily to promote coverage of human rights issues, particularly those affecting the most vulnerable in Congolese society. In the past few years, JHR has focused on youth programming, on the principle that youth are the key to a brighter future in the media sector. JHR’s approach is to build the capacity of journalism students to foster dialogue around human rights, democracy and good governance issues on campuses, in the community and in the media across the DRC through a network of 11 JHR university chapters in Kinshasa, Goma (North Kivu) and Bukavu (South Kivu).
Beginning in 2019, Canada World: Voice for Women & Girls is a 4 year initiative supported by Global Affairs Canada that will improve the human rights of women and girls within the DRC through working with journalists, civil society and key stakeholders.
Program supported by:
Stories from the Field
DRC: Canada World trainee wins award for story on the persecution of women accused of witchcraft
Uwezo Africa reporter Joelle Safina Bufole has been awarded the best story prize in the radio category of the Young Women Journalist Awards, organized by Congolese Union of Media Women (UCOFEM) and Internews. The annual [...]
DRC: President enacts law promoting gender equality in the upcoming general elections
On June 29, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi put into effect the legislation governing the 2023 general election. Under the newly passed law, political parties that submit candidacy lists consisting of at least 50% women will [...]
DRC: Four national deputies endorse proposed law exempting SGBV survivors from legal fees
JHR's Prince Murhala with Me Josepha Pumbulu, the representative of the DRC Minister of Justice, at the November 30 roundtable where four national deputies endorsed the proposed law to exempt SGBV survivors from legal fees [...]
DRC: When security forces track “compromising” anti-regime images in cell phones
By Prince Murhula In the Democratic Republic of Congo, hundreds of people were arrested after their phones were subjected to impromptu searches by security forces. This practice was deemed illegal by human rights defenders "I [...]
