Despite the seriousness and scale of rape crimes that are committed in Congo hardly anybody is held responsible for them. Widespread impunity is caused by the poor functioning of the Congolese national justice system, which is characterised by corruption, poor legal training, violations of procedures, lack of political will and the limited presence of tribunals in rural areas. As a consequence, survivors of rape are seldom able to get their rapists behind bars. Those who do end up in prison are usually poor and sometimes even innocent because the rights of suspects are rarely respected.
The campaign against impunity uses film in different ways. Mobile cinemas raise awareness on judicial procedures at the community level. Tailor-made films aim at changing the attitudes of personnel in the justice system and short clips are used to motivate Congo’s politicians to take judicial reform seriously.
2013 – Tools created for this campaign are still being used today
GOAL:
To address and bring a halt to the impunity that is widespread in Congo’s justice system by means of a nation-wide campaign.
IMPACT PARTNERS:
This project is implemented in collaboration with Cordaid, Stichting Vluchteling and the Dutch Postcode Lottery.
RESULTS FIRST YEAR:
- Collaboration with 18 local partners
- Collaboration with legal actors like lawyers, prosecutors, judges in rural area’s and cities
- 500 screenings and reached 400.000 people al over DR Congo