World Coalition Against Death Penalty

Homepage The campaign for the abolition of the death penalty on the African continent Democratic Republic of the Congo: the abolitionists organize workshops for journalists

- Democratic Republic of the Congo: the abolitionists organize workshops for journalists
  Article by Thalia Gerzso published on September 25th, 2017
  Concerned by the population’s view on the death penalty, the Human Rights Defenders and Abolitionist Advocates in Democratic Republic of the Congo Network [Réseau des associations de défense des droits de l’homme et militants abolitionnistes de la peine de mort en République Démocratique du Congo (RADHOMA)] organized several training courses for journalists in the past few months.
- Over the last summer, RADHOMA organized several training courses targeting local journalists. For two months, 8 journalists attended several workshops on the death penalty. Thanks to these workshops, journalists have developed the necessary skills to deliver accurate information and facilitate the debate on the death penalty and its abolition.
  
  A training course aimed at facilitating the debate on the abolition of the death penalty.
  
  Over the last few years, the debate on the abolition of the death penalty in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has not been prolific. To remedy this situation, RADHOMA decided to collaborate more closely with media. RADHOMA identified 8 journalists from different background but already in favor of the abolition and offered to train them during several weeks. During these workshops, trainers addressed essential issues. First, Mr. Baudouin Kipaka Basilimu, Executive Secretary, and Mr. François Mukandila, Journalist Coordinator, defined key notions to explain the arguments against capital punishment, but also the abolition process and the role of journalists in the advocacy process. Thanks to a constructive dialogue, the journalists understood why the abolition of the death penalty was necessary. The advocacy skills of RADHOMA’s speakers even convinced the most reluctant ones after only 4 workshops.
  
  A useful training course for the World Day Against the Death Penalty, but not only.
  
  Thanks to these workshops, members of RADHOMA were able to put the debate on the abolition of the death penalty at the center of the civil society’s discussions. Indeed, members of the network will be the guest of several radio and television shows in Kinshasa and Sud-Kivu. The discussion will mainly focus on this year’s World Day theme (poverty and the death penalty), but also on a report exposing the living conditions of death row prisoners in the country made by RADHOMA’s volunteers.
  
  By drawing the attention of the “4^th Estate” to the death penalty, abolitionists wish to bring back the abolition of the death penalty on the political agenda. Although the Democratic Republic of the Congo is abolitionist de facto, authorities have always refused to abolish the death penalty completely. It has based its refusal on the population’s support to the death penalty. “This argument does not rely on any material evidence.” said Baudouin Kipaka Basilimu. The training aims at remedying this unclear situation. Indeed, after raising awareness among the population, journalists will be able to have a more accurate representation of the population’s opinion on the death penalty.
  
  For RADHOMA, this training was only a first step. In the upcoming months, the network will organize other trainings targeting journalists, but not only. The network would like to train and discuss with other members of the Congolese society in order to facilitate negotiations aimed to abolish the death penalty. RADHOMA is currently designing workshops targeting magistrates and members of the military. These workshops will emphasize the inconsistencies of the Congolese criminal justice system which forces judges to sentence individuals to death. Building on the success of the latest training, RADHOMA remains focused on its main purpose: a complete abolition of the death penalty in the country.
- Same issue
  - Africa Parliamentarians from French-speaking Africa commit to the abolition of the death penalty Article by Jessica Corredor published on January 17th, 2017
  - Protocol São Tomé and Príncipe ratifies OP2 and approves total and definitive abolition of the death penalty Article by Elise Guillot published on January 18th, 2017
  - Africa Towards the abolition of the death penalty in DRC: advances to be confirmed Article by Olivier LUNGWE FATAKI - Pax Christi Uvira published on December 13th, 2016
  - African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Renewed calls for the abolition of the death penalty at the NGO forum and the 59th Session of the ACHPR Article by Jessica Corredor published on November 25th, 2016
  - World Day Africa raises its voice against the death penalty Article by Tiziana Trotta published on October 21st, 2016
  - African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights 58th Extraordinary Session of the ACHPR: a strong commitment of African states to a treaty providing the abolition of the death penalty Article by Guillaume Colin published on April 14th, 2016
  - Africa African Commission adopts draft Protocol on abolition Article by Maria Donatelli published on April 24th, 2015
  - Africa In Cameroon, the abolitionist network grows Article by Nestor Toko and Jessica Corredor published on October 28th, 2016
  - Africa Abolition of the death penalty in Guinea Article by Marion Gauer published on July 05th, 2016
  - Africa The abolitionists’ forum in Niger: a great success Article by Garba Illou Almoctar and Elise Guillot published on November 22nd, 2016
  - Africa Pardon Prisoners On Death Row Article by Lucy Peace Nantume published on November 08th, 2016
  - Protocol ACAT-CI commits to the ratification of OP2 in Côte d’Ivoire Article by N'guettia Yves Arsene Kouadio - ACAT Côte d'Ivoire published on January 04th, 2017
  - Good News Tanzania: President Magufuli declares his position against the death penalty. Article by Thalia Gerzso published on September 20th, 2017
  - Good News Gambia and Madagascar commit to irreversible abolition Article by Aurelie Placais published on September 22nd, 2017
  - Africa Makwanyane Institute Is Launched at Cornell Law School Article by Sherrie Negrea, Cornell Law School published on July 17th, 2017
  - Africa Toward the abolition in Cameroon Article by Lorène du Crest et Nicolas Perron published on July 06th, 2017
  - African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights A major abolitionist gathering for the 60th ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights in Niger Article by Jessica Corredor published on May 19th, 2017
  - Report 12 Years Without an Execution: Is Zimbabwe Ready for Abolition? Article by Death Penalty Project published on May 24th, 2018
  - ACHPR The death penalty at the heart of the debates of the 62nd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights Article by Guillaume Colin - Jessica Corredor published on May 15th, 2018
  - Joint Statement Mandatory Death Penalty for Blasphemy in Mauritania Article by World Coalition Against the death penalty published on May 11th, 2018
  - Report “Unknown Assailants: A Threat to Human Rights” Article by Legal Human Rights Centre published on May 04th, 2018
  - Regional Congress “It’s in Africa that we find the strongest dynamics towards abolition” Article by Clémentine Etienne published on April 24th, 2018
  - Statement World Coalition welcomes the success of the Regional Congress in Africa Article by World Coalition Against the Death Penalty published on April 12th, 2018
  - Good news The Supreme Court of Kenya declares the mandatory death penalty unconstitutional Article by Thalia Gerzso published on January 23rd, 2018
  - ACHPR « A new Gambia » welcomes the 61st session of the ACHPR Article by FIACAT and World Coalition against the Death Penalty published on November 21st, 2017
  - World Day Strong mobilization in Sub-Saharan Africa on World Day Article by Thalia Gerzso published on October 19th, 2017
  - Africa Innocent and Sentenced to Die: Wrongful Incarceration on Nigeria's Death Row Video published on October 14th, 2016
- Keywords
- Public opinion Public debate Member organizations Death Penalty
- Other Articles
- Good news Pakistan’s Supreme Court Repeals Death Penalty for Mentally-Ill People
- Statement Calling for an Official Moratorium on the Use of the Death Penalty in Bahrain ahead of the Meeting of the Council of Paris
- Good news 246 People Removed from Death Rows in Zambia