Source: http://www.deathpenaltyworldwide.org/country-search-post.cfm?country=Democratic+Republic+of+the+Congo
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 04:57:54+00:00

Document:
U.S. Dept. of State, Background Note: Democratic Republic of the Congo, http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2823.htm, Oct. 8, 2010.
 Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, La peine de mort : République démocratique du Congo, http://www.abolition.fr/ecpm/french/fiche-pays.php?pays=COD, last accessed Dec. 29, 2010.
 Decree of the Governor General Regarding Capital Executions, art. 1, Apr. 9, 1898. Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Abolir… Rapport annuel de l’association ECPM pour l’abolition universelle de la peine de mort, p. 119, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, 2007.
 Congolese Penal Code, art. 6, Jan. 30, 1940, as amended by Nov. 30, 2004.
 Decree of the Governor General Regarding Capital Executions, art. 1, Apr. 9, 1898. Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Abolir… Rapport annuel de l’association ECPM pour l’abolition universelle de la peine de mort, p. 119, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, 2007. Yorkshire Post, Death Sentence for ex-Soldier, http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Death-sentence-for-exsoldier.6355646.jp, Jun. 10, 2010.
 Decree of the Governor General Regarding Capital Executions, art. 2, Apr. 9, 1898.
 Ordinance on Photography Taking, art. 1, No. 86/Cont., Aug. 3, 1936.
 Maela Bégot & Liévin Ngondji, Les « sans-voix » de la République démocratique du Congo – Enquête dans les couloirs de la mort de Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Buluwo, Kindu et Goma, Rapport de mission, Août à octobre 2005, in Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Abolir… Rapport annuel de l’association ECPM pour l’abolition universelle de la peine de mort, pp. 136, 163, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, 2007. Eglantine Bourgognon-Roudaut, Interview of Liévin Ngondji Ongombe, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, http://www.abolition.fr/ecpm/french/article.php?art=217, May 23, 2005.
 Amnesty Intl., Death Sentences and Executions in 2009, p. 24, ACT 50/001/2010, Mar. 30, 2010.
 Amnesty Intl., Death Sentences and Executions in 2008, p. 22, ACT 50/003/2009, Mar. 24, 2009.
 Amnesty Intl., Death Sentences and Executions in 2007, p. 6, ACT 50/001/2008, Apr. 15, 2008. Roger Hood & Carolyn Hoyle, The Death Penalty: A Worldwide Perspective, p. 81, Oxford University Press, 4th ed., 2008.
Under articles 7, 57 and 15, the Constitution provides specific definitions of the offenses of treason and crime against humanity, and refers to the law regarding applicable penalties. While the Penal Code and Military Penal Code impose the death penalty for these offenses, it should be remembered that the same Constitution guarantees the right to life as sacred.
Additionally, the DRC is party to the ICCPR  and to the Convention on the Rights of the Child,  and is a signatory to the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child,  which prohibit the death penalty for crimes committed while under the age of 18.
 Congolese Penal Code, art. 49, Jan. 30, 1940, as amended by Nov. 30, 2004.
 Congolese Penal Code, arts. 44-45, Jan. 30, 1940, as amended by Nov. 30, 2004.
 Congolese Penal Code, art. 108, Jan. 30, 1940, as amended by Nov. 30, 2004.
 Congolese Penal Code, art. 85, Jan. 30, 1940, as amended by Nov. 30, 2004.
 Congolese Penal Code, art. 67, Jan. 30, 1940, as amended by Nov. 30, 2004.
 Congolese Penal Code, art. 68, Jan. 30, 1940, as amended by Nov. 30, 2004.
 DRC Military Penal Code, art. 171, Law No. 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 DRC Military Penal Code, art. 68, 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 Congolese Penal Code, art. 57, Jan. 30, 1940, as amended by Nov. 30, 2004.
 DRC Military Penal Code, art. 158, Law No. 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 DRC Military Penal Code, art. 135, Law No. 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 Congolese Penal Code, arts. 156-158, Jan. 30, 1940, as amended by Nov. 30, 2004.
 Congolese Penal Code, art. 81bis, Jan. 30, 1940, as amended by Nov. 30, 2004.
 DRC Military Penal Code, arts. 113, 195, Law No. 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 DRC Military Penal Code, art. 132, Law No. 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 Congolese Penal Code, arts. 181-184, Jan. 30, 1940, as amended by Nov. 30, 2004.
 DRC Military Penal Code, arts. 128, 133, 148, 149-150, 154, Law No. 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 Congolese Penal Code, art. 193, Jan. 30, 1940, as amended by Nov. 30, 2004.
 Congolese Penal Code, arts. 195, 200, 202, 204, 207, 208, Jan. 30, 1940, as amended by Nov. 30, 2004. DRC Military Penal Code, arts. 137, 138, 139, 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 DRC Military Penal Code, art. 91, 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 DRC Military Penal Code, art. 72, 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 Congolese Penal Code, art. 185, Jan. 30, 1940, as amended by Nov. 30, 2004. DRC Military Penal Code, art. 129, Law No. 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 DRC Military Penal Code, arts. 45, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51, Law No. 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 DRC Military Penal Code, art. 53, Law No. 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 DRC Military Penal Code, arts. 57, 119, 120, Law No. 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 DRC Military Penal Code, arts. 55, 56, 60, 61, 88, 114, 116, 117, 121, Law No. 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 DRC Military Penal Code, art. 58, Law No. 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 DRC Military Penal Code, arts. 67, 68, 69, 202, Law No. 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 DRC Military Penal Code, arts. 90-94, 113, 140, Law No. 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 DRC Military Penal Code, arts. 134, 143, 179, 190, Law No. 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 DRC Military Penal Code, arts. 95-97, 100, 101, Law No. 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 DRC Military Penal Code, art. 62, Law No. 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 DRC Military Penal Code, art. 189, Law No. 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 DRC Military Penal Code, arts. 59, 146, Law No. 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 DRC Military Penal Code, arts. 64, 65, 103, 164, 166-169, 170, 172, 191, 192, 194, Law No. 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002. Congolese Penal Code, art. 200, Jan. 30, 1940, as amended by Nov. 30, 2004.
 Congolese Penal Code, art. 4, Jan. 30, 1940, as amended by Nov. 30, 2004.
 DRC Military Penal Code, art. 159, Law No. 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002. Congolese Penal Code, art. 218, Jan. 30, 1940, Jan. 30, 1940, as amended by Nov. 30, 2004.
 Congolese Penal Code, art. 18, Jan. 30, 1940, as amended by Nov. 30, 2004.
 DRC Military Penal Code, art. 27, Law No. 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 DRC Military Penal Code, art. 156, Law No. 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002. Congolese Penal Code, art. 218, Jan. 30, 1940, as amended by Nov. 30, 2004.
 See e.g. DRC Military Penal Code, arts. 45, 46, 48, 59, 69, 93, 116, 117, Law No. 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 Congolese Penal Code, art. 18, Jan. 30, 1940, as amended by Nov. 30, 2004; DRC Military Penal Code, art. 27, Law No. 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 DRC Law on Child Protection, arts. 2, 9, Law No. 09/001, Jan. 10, 2009.
 DRC Military Judicial Code, art. 114, Law No. 024/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 Status, Declarations, and Reservations, ICCPR, 999 U.N.T.S. 171, Dec. 16, 1966, http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-4&chapter=4〈=en, last accessed Dec. 29, 2010.
 Status, Declarations, and Reservations, Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1577 U.N.T.S. 3, http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=UNTSONLINE&tabid=2&mtdsg_no=IV-11&chapter=4〈=en#Participants, last accessed Dec. 29, 2010.
 A.U., List of Countries which have signed, ratified/acceded to the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, Doc. 0003, http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/Documents/Treaties/List/African%20Charter%20on%20the%20Rights%20and%20Welfare%20of%20the%20Child.pdf, Mar. 1, 2010.
 Decree of the Governor General Regarding Capital Executions, art. 3, Apr. 9, 1898.
 A.U, List of Countries which have signed, ratified/acceded to the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People's Rights on the Rights of Women In Africa, Doc. 0025, http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/Documents/Treaties/List/Protocol%20on%20the%20Rights%20of%20Women.pdf, Mar. 2, 2010. A.U., Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People's Rights on the Rights of Women In Africa, art. 4.2.j), http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/Documents/Treaties/Text/Protocol%20on%20the%20Rights%20of%20Women.pdf, Jul. 11, 2003.
 U.N. ECOSOC Commn. on Human Rights, Civil and political rights, including questions of: disappearances and summary executions, extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Report of the Special Rapporteur, Ms. Asma Jahangir, submitted pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 1998/68, Addendum, Country situations, para. 68, U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/1999/39/Add.1, Jan. 6, 1999.
 A.U, List of Countries which have signed, ratified/acceded to the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People's Rights on the Rights of Women In Africa, Doc. 0025, http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/Documents/Treaties/List/Protocol%20on%20the%20Rights%20of%20Women.pdf, Mar. 2, 2010.
 A.U., African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, art. 30.1.(e), A.U. Doc. CAB/LEG/24.9/49 (1990), http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/Documents/Treaties/Text/A.%20C.%20ON%20THE%20RIGHT%20AND%20WELF%20OF%20CHILD.pdf, Jul. 11, 1990.
 Status, Declarations, and Reservations, ICCPR, 999 U.N.T.S. 171, Dec. 16, 1966, http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-4&chapter=4〈=en , last accessed Dec. 29, 2010.
 Status, Declarations, and Reservations, Optional Prot. to the ICCPR, 999 U.N.T.S. 171, Dec. 16, 1966, http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-5&chapter=4〈=en , last accessed Dec. 29, 2010.
 Status, Declarations, and Reservations, Second Optional Prot. to the ICCPR, Aiming at the Abolition of the Death Penalty, 1642 U.N.T.S. 414, Dec. 15, 1989, http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-12&chapter=4〈=en , last accessed Jul. 8, 2010.
 U.N.G.A., 71st Session, Promotion and protection of human rights: human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, paras. 54-71 U.N. Doc. A/71/484/Add.2, Dec. 6, 2016. U.N.G.A., 71st Session, Voting Record on A/RES/71/187, Dec. 19, 2016.
On December 19, 2005, the President promulgated an amnesty law that was seen by Congolese abolition activists as a big step forward.  As of July 2010, we did not find information on how it has been implemented or whether a significant number of death-sentenced prisoners have benefited from it.
On May 7, 2009, the President promulgated another amnesty law on acts of war which took place in Kivu. However, war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide were excluded from the scope of the law.  The state of this amnesty law’s implementation also remains unknown.
In the National Report it submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Council in preparation for its 2009 Universal Periodic Review, the DRC stated that Articles 16 and 61 of the 2006 Constitution laid the foundations for the elimination of the death penalty and that a bill to abolish capital punishment was at that time before Parliament.  In the same report, the DRC declared that it was “pursuing deliberations with a view to the ratification of international human rights instruments, including...the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty.”  The DRC also supported Italy’s recommendation that it introduce a formal moratorium on the death penalty with a view to its abolition.  As of July 21, 2010 we do not know the status of this abolition bill.
Reports indicate that most death sentences in the DRC are issued by military courts rather than civilian courts.  Until its abolition in 2003, the Military Order Court (Cour d’Ordre Militaire) or “Com” was the source of most death sentences handed down to civilians and service people. The Com was described as “an arbitrary jurisdiction … without any possibility of judicial review or appeal.”  This limits the availability of significant opinions on the death penalty.
By the end of our research, we did not find sources providing ready or reliable judicial decisions regarding the death penalty. Some relevant case law may be found on the website of the Ministry of Justice (http://www.justice.gov.cd/); the Droit Congolais website, with links to a number of cases decided by various DRC courts (http://www.droitcongolais.info/_liens__contact_.html); and Juricongo, a paying website (http://www.juricongo.com).
Appeals of judgements rendered by the lower military courts are lodged before the Military High Court.  In practice, the right of appeal from military tribunals may be seriously limited.  Under article 87 of the Military Penal Code, judgments rendered by military courts in time of war may not be appealed;  this provision is contrary to articles 21 and 61 of the 2006 Constitution,  and should therefore no longer be good law.
 The Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, art. 16, Feb. 18, 2006.
 The Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, art. 61, Feb. 18, 2006.
 Maela Bégot & Liévin Ngondji, Les « sans-voix » de la République démocratique du Congo – Enquête dans les couloirs de la mort de Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Buluwo, Kindu et Goma, Rapport de mission, Août à octobre 2005, in Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Abolir… Rapport annuel de l’association ECPM pour l’abolition universelle de la peine de mort, p. 152, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, 2007. Roger Hood & Carolyn Hoyle, The Death Penalty: A Worldwide Perspective, pp. 81-82, Oxford University Press, 4th ed., 2008.
 Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Article, http://www.abolition.fr/ecpm/french/article.php?art=216, May 18, 2005. Eglantine Bourgognon-Roudaut, Interview of Liévin Ngondji Ongombe, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, http://www.abolition.fr/ecpm/french/article.php?art=217, May 23, 2005.
 U.N.G.A. Human Rights Council, National Report Submitted In Accordance With Paragraph 15 (A) Of The Annex To Human Rights Council Resolution 5/1 Democratic Republic Of The Congo, para. 36, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/WG.6/6/COD/1, Sep. 3, 2009.
 The Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, art. 153, Feb. 18, 2006.
 The Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, art. 215, Feb. 18, 2006.
 Maela Bégot & Liévin Ngondji, Les « sans-voix » de la République démocratique du Congo – Enquête dans les couloirs de la mort de Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Buluwo, Kindu et Goma, Rapport de mission, Août à octobre 2005, in Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Abolir… Rapport annuel de l’association ECPM pour l’abolition universelle de la peine de mort, pp. 137, 142, 147, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, 2007.
 U.N. ECOSOC Commission des Droits de l’Homme, Exposé écrit présenté conjointement par International Human Rights Law Group, organisation non gouvernementale dotée du statut consultatif spécial, U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/2003/NGO/192, Mar. 17, 2003.
 Maela Bégot & Liévin Ngondji, Les « sans-voix » de la République démocratique du Congo – Enquête dans les couloirs de la mort de Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Buluwo, Kindu et Goma, Rapport de mission, Août à octobre 2005, in Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Abolir… Rapport annuel de l’association ECPM pour l’abolition universelle de la peine de mort, p. 148, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, 2007. Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, La peine de mort : République démocratique du Congo, http://www.abolition.fr/ecpm/french/fiche-pays.php?pays=COD, last accessed Dec. 29, 2010.
 Maela Bégot & Liévin Ngondji, Les « sans-voix » de la République démocratique du Congo – Enquête dans les couloirs de la mort de Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Buluwo, Kindu et Goma, Rapport de mission, Août à octobre 2005, in Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Abolir… Rapport annuel de l’association ECPM pour l’abolition universelle de la peine de mort, p. 137, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, 2007.
 U.N. ICCPR Human Rights Committee, Consideration of Reports Submitted By States Parties under Article 40 of the Covenant, Third Periodic Report, Democratic Republic of the Congo, para. 66, U.N. Doc. CCPR/C/COD/2005/3, May 3, 2005.
 U.N. ECOSOC Commission des Droits de l’Homme, Exposé écrit présenté conjointement par International Human Rights Law Group, organisation non gouvernementale dotée du statut consultatif spécial, U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/2003/NGO/192, Mar. 17, 2003. Pierre Félix Kandolo On'ufuku Wa Kandolo, De L'exercice des droits et libertés individuels et collectifs comme garantie d'une bonne gouvernance en Afrique noire : Cas de la République Démocratique du Congo, http://www.congoforum.be/upldocs/De%20L%20exercice%20des%20droits%20et%20libertes%20individ..%2016.pdf, Jul. 28, 2007.
 Maela Bégot & Liévin Ngondji, Les « sans-voix » de la République démocratique du Congo – Enquête dans les couloirs de la mort de Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Buluwo, Kindu et Goma, Rapport de mission, Août à octobre 2005, in Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Abolir…Rapport annuel de l’association ECPM pour l’abolition universelle de la peine de mort, pp. 148-149, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, 2007.
 U.N. ECOSOC Commission des Droits de l’Homme, Exposé écrit présenté conjointement par International Human Rights Law Group, organisation non gouvernementale dotée du statut consultatif spécial, U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/2003/NGO/192, Mar. 17, 2003. Maela Bégot & Liévin Ngondji, Les « sans-voix » de la République démocratique du Congo – Enquête dans les couloirs de la mort de Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Buluwo, Kindu et Goma, Rapport de mission, Août à octobre 2005, in Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Abolir… Rapport annuel de l’association ECPM pour l’abolition universelle de la peine de mort, p. 150, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, 2007.
 Maela Bégot & Liévin Ngondji, Les « sans-voix » de la République démocratique du Congo – Enquête dans les couloirs de la mort de Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Buluwo, Kindu et Goma, Rapport de mission, Août à octobre 2005, in Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Abolir… Rapport annuel de l’association ECPM pour l’abolition universelle de la peine de mort, p. 150, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, 2007.
 Maela Bégot & Liévin Ngondji, Les « sans-voix » de la République démocratique du Congo – Enquête dans les couloirs de la mort de Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Buluwo, Kindu et Goma, Rapport de mission, Août à octobre 2005, in Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Abolir… Rapport annuel de l’association ECPM pour l’abolition universelle de la peine de mort, p. 150, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, 2007. Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, La peine de mort : République démocratique du Congo, http://www.abolition.fr/ecpm/french/fiche-pays.php?pays=COD, last accessed Dec. 29, 2010. Amnesty Intl., Urgent Action: DRC, AFR 62/004/2003, Jan. 12, 2003.
 U.N. Security Council, Note by the President of the Security Council, para. 8, U.N. Doc. S/2003/216, Feb. 24, 2003.
 Maela Bégot & Liévin Ngondji, Les « sans-voix » de la République démocratique du Congo – Enquête dans les couloirs de la mort de Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Buluwo, Kindu et Goma, Rapport de mission, Août à octobre 2005, in Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Abolir… Rapport annuel de l’association ECPM pour l’abolition universelle de la peine de mort, p. 152, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, 2007. Roger Hood & Carolyn Hoyle, The Death Penalty: A Worldwide Perspective, p. 81, Oxford University Press, 4th ed., 2008.
 The Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, arts. 16, 61, Feb. 18, 2006.
 Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, RDC / Loi d’amnistie : la Coalition Congolaise demande de passer aux actes !, http://www.abolition.fr/ecpm/french/news.php?new=441, Jan. 19, 2006.
 DRC Law Amending and Completing the Penal Code, art. 2, Law No. 06/018, Jul. 20, 2006.
 DRC Amnesty Law for War and Insurrection Related Acts Committed in the Provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, Law No. 09/003, May 7, 2009.
 U.N.G.A. Human Rights Council, National Report Submitted In Accordance With Paragraph 15 (A) Of The Annex To Human Rights Council Resolution 5/1 Democratic Republic Of The Congo, p. 8, para. 36, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/WG.6/6/COD/1, Sep. 3, 2009.
 U.N.G.A. Human Rights Council, National Report Submitted In Accordance With Paragraph 15 (A) Of The Annex To Human Rights Council Resolution 5/1 Democratic Republic Of The Congo, p. 20, para. 125, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/WG.6/6/COD/1, Sep. 3, 2009.
 U.N.G.A., Human Rights Council, Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review Democratic Republic of the Congo, p. 14, para. (94).31, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/13/8, Jan. 4, 2010.
 U.N.G.A. Human Rights Council, Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review Democratic Republic of the Congo, p. 14, para. (94).31, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/13/8, Jan. 4, 2010.
 Maela Bégot & Liévin Ngondji, Les « sans-voix » de la République démocratique du Congo – Enquête dans les couloirs de la mort de Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Buluwo, Kindu et Goma, Rapport de mission, Août à octobre 2005, in Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Abolir… Rapport annuel de l’association ECPM pour l’abolition universelle de la peine de mort, p. 145, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, 2007.
 Franck Gorchs-Chacou & Caroline Sculier, The Death Penalty in the Great Lakes Region of Africa, Protagonists, Arguments and Strategies, p. 15, World Coalition Against Death Penalty, http://www.worldcoalition.org/modules/wfdownloads/singlefile.php?cid=25&lid=323, May 2008.
 Avocats Sans Frontières, Case Study, The Application of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court by the Courts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, p. 19, http://www.asf.be/publications/ASF_CaseStudy_RomeStatute_Light_PagePerPage.pdf, 2009.
 DRC Military Judicial Code, art. 345, Law No. 023/2002, Nov. 18, 2002. DRC Regulation on Judicial Organization, art. 175, Law No. 299/79, Aug. 20, 1979.
 The Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, art. 152, Feb. 18, 2006.
 Maela Bégot & Liévin Ngondji, Les « sans-voix » de la République démocratique du Congo – Enquête dans les couloirs de la mort de Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Buluwo, Kindu et Goma. Rapport de mission. Août à octobre 2005, in Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Abolir… Edition 2007 Rapport annuel de l’association ECPM pour l’abolition universelle de la peine de mort, p. 144, n. 4, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, 2007.
 DRC Military Judicial Code, art. 162, No. 023/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 The Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, art. 87, Feb. 18, 2006.
 U.S. Department of State, 2009 Human Rights Report: Democratic Republic of the Congo, , Mar. 11, 2010.
 The Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, art. 21, Feb. 18, 2006. However, arts. 153 & 163 of the Constitution provide otherwise for certain categories of persons such as members of parliament, the president and the prime minister.
 DRC Regulation on Judicial Organization, art. 175, No. 299/79, Aug. 20, 1979.
 Maela Bégot & Liévin Ngondji, Les « sans-voix » de la République démocratique du Congo – Enquête dans les couloirs de la mort de Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Buluwo, Kindu et Goma, Rapport de mission, Août à octobre 2005, in Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Abolir… Rapport annuel de l’association ECPM pour l’abolition universelle de la peine de mort, p. 144, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, 2007.
 Dunia Zongwe, François Butedi and Phebe Mavungu Clément, The Legal System and Research of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): An Overview, GlobaLex, http://www.nyulawglobal.com/globalex/Democratic_Republic_Congo1.htm#_2.6.1._The_existing, Sep. 2010.
 DRC Military Judicial Code, arts. 18, 87, Law No. 023/2002, Nov. 18, 2002.
 The Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, arts. 21, 61, Feb. 18, 2006. However, arts. 153 & 163 of the Constitution provide otherwise for certain categories of persons such as the members of the parliament, the president and the prime minister.
 The Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, art. 162, Feb. 18, 2006.
 The Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, art. 223, Feb. 18, 2006.
In January 2010, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights reported the frequent use of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment on detainees in custody.  This might affect prisoners on death row, either directly or because they are held in an environment where torture and other forms of abuse are committed.
As of July 22, 2010 we did not find information about women on death row in the DRC.
 Maela Bégot & Liévin Ngondji, Les « sans-voix » de la République démocratique du Congo – Enquête dans les couloirs de la mort de Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Buluwo, Kindu et Goma. Rapport de mission. Août à octobre 2005, in Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Abolir… Edition 2007 Rapport annuel de l’association ECPM pour l’abolition universelle de la peine de mort, pp. 136, 139, 186, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, 2007.
 U.N.G.A. Human Rights Council, Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Philip Alston, Addendum, Mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, p. 1, p. 19, para. 82, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/14/24/Add.3, Jun. 1, 2010.
 U.N.G.A. Human Rights Council, Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Philip Alston, Addendum, Mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, p. 19, para. 82, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/14/24/Add.3, Jun. 1, 2010.
 U.N.G.A., Human Rights Council, Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights and the activities of her Office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, para. 44, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/10/58, Apr. 2, 2009.
 U.N.G.A. Human Rights Council, Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights and the activities of her Office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, p. 6, para. 10, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/13/64, Jan. 28, 2010.
 U.N.G.A. Human Rights Council, National Report Submitted In Accordance With Paragraph 15 (A) Of The Annex To Human Rights Council Resolution 5/1 Democratic Republic Of The Congo, p. 20, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/WG.6/6/COD/1, Sep. 3, 2009.
 U.S. Dept. of State, 2009 Human Rights Report: Democratic Republic of the Congo, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135947.htm , Mar. 11, 2010.
 U.N. Security Council, Fourth special report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, p. 9, para. 39, U.N. Doc. S/2008/728, Nov. 21, 2008.
 Avocats Sans Frontières, Etat des lieux de la détention provisoire en République démocratique du Congo juillet 2006 - avril 2008, pp. 5, 33, http://www.asf.be/publications/publication_RDC_detention_provisoire.pdf , Sep., 2008.
 U.S. Dept. of State, 2009 Human Rights Report: Democratic Republic of the Congo, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135947.htm, Mar. 11, 2010. Avocats Sans Frontières, Etat des lieux de la détention provisoire en République démocratique du Congo juillet 2006 - avril 2008, p. 34, http://www.asf.be/publications/publication_RDC_detention_provisoire.pdf, Sep., 2008.
 U.N.G.A. Human Rights Council, Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Philip Alston, Addendum, Mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, p. 19, para. 83, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/14/24/Add.3, Jun. 1, 2010. U.S. Dept. of State, 2009 Human Rights Report: Democratic Republic of the Congo, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135947.htm , Mar. 11, 2010.
 U.N.G.A. Human Rights Council, Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Philip Alston, Addendum, Mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, pp. 19-20, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/14/24/Add.3, Jun. 1, 2010. Avocats Sans Frontières, Etat des lieux de la détention provisoire en République démocratique du Congo juillet 2006 - avril 2008, p. 5, http://www.asf.be/publications/publication_RDC_detention_provisoire.pdf, Sep., 2008.
 U.N.G.A. Human Rights Council, Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights and the activities of her Office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, p. 7, para. 13, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/13/64, Jan. 28, 2010.
 Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Peine de mort confirmée en appel pour deux Norvégiens, http://www.abolition.fr/ecpm/french/news.php?new=1147, Nov. 29, 2009.
 AFP, Norwegian duo get death penalty in Congo, The Sydney Morning Herald, http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/norwegian-duo-get-death-penalty-in-congo-20100610-y0ot.html, Jun. 10, 2010.
 Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Sept condamnations à mort, http://www.abolition.fr/ecpm/french/news.php?new=827, Aug. 8, 2007.
 Anjan Sundaram, Congolese Minors Sit on Death Row, Inter Press Service, http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=33017, Apr. 26, 2006.
 U.N.G.A. Human Rights Council, Promotion And Protection Of All Human Rights, Civil, Political, Economic, Social And Cultural, Including The Right To Development, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Leandro Despouy, Addendum, Mission to The Democratic Republic of the Congo, p. 16 para. 62, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/8/4/Add.2, Apr. 11, 2008.
 Maela Bégot & Liévin Ngondji, Les « sans-voix » de la République démocratique du Congo – Enquête dans les couloirs de la mort de Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Buluwo, Kindu et Goma. Rapport de mission. Août à octobre 2005, in Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Abolir… Edition 2007 Rapport annuel de l’association ECPM pour l’abolition universelle de la peine de mort, p. 203, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, 2007. The statement can also be derived from Avocats Sans Frontières, Etat des lieux de la détention provisoire en République démocratique du Congo juillet 2006 - avril 2008, p. 27, http://www.asf.be/publications/publication_RDC_detention_provisoire.pdf , Sep., 2008.
 Maela Bégot & Liévin Ngondji, Les « sans-voix » de la République démocratique du Congo – Enquête dans les couloirs de la mort de Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Buluwo, Kindu et Goma, Rapport de mission, Août à octobre 2005, in Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Abolir… Rapport annuel de l’association ECPM pour l’abolition universelle de la peine de mort, p. 136, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, 2007.
 Maela Bégot & Liévin Ngondji, Les « sans-voix » de la République démocratique du Congo – Enquête dans les couloirs de la mort de Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Buluwo, Kindu et Goma, Rapport de mission, Août à octobre 2005, in Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Abolir… Rapport annuel de l’association ECPM pour l’abolition universelle de la peine de mort, p. 202, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, 2007.
 The Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, art. 19, Feb. 18, 2006.
 DRC Ordinance-Law on the Organization of a Legal Bar and Public Defenders, art. 43, Law No. 79-028, Sep. 28, 1979.
 U.N.G.A. Human Rights Council, Promotion And Protection Of All Human Rights, Civil, Political, Economic, Social And Cultural, Including The Right To Development, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Leandro Despouy, Addendum, Mission to The Democratic Republic of the Congo, p. 12, para. 44, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/8/4/Add.2, Apr. 11, 2008.
 Avocats Sans Frontières, Etat des lieux de la détention provisoire en République démocratique du Congo juillet 2006 - avril 2008, p. 26, www.asf.be/publications/RDC_EtudeDétPréventive2008.pdf, Sep., 2008.
 Avocats Sans Frontières, Etat des lieux de la détention provisoire en République démocratique du Congo juillet 2006 - avril 2008, p. 5, www.asf.be/publications/RDC_EtudeDétPréventive2008.pdf, Sep., 2008.
 U.S. Dept. of State, 2009 Human Rights Report: Democratic Republic of the Congo, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135947.htm, Mar. 11, 2010.
 U.N.G.A. Human Rights Council, Promotion And Protection Of All Human Rights, Civil, Political, Economic, Social And Cultural, Including The Right To Development, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Leandro Despouy, Addendum, Mission to The Democratic Republic of the Congo, p. 8, para. 23, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/8/4/Add.2, Apr. 11, 2008.
 Avocats Sans Frontières, Etat des lieux de la détention provisoire en République démocratique du Congo juillet 2006 - avril 2008, p. 5, www.asf.be/publications/RDC_EtudeDétPréventive2008.pdf, Sep., 2008. Anjan Sundaram, Congolese Minors Sit on Death Row, Inter Press Service, http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=33017, Apr. 26, 2006.
 Maela Bégot & Liévin Ngondji, Les « sans-voix » de la République démocratique du Congo – Enquête dans les couloirs de la mort de Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Buluwo, Kindu et Goma, Rapport de mission, Août à octobre 2005, in Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Abolir… Rapport annuel de l’association ECPM pour l’abolition universelle de la peine de mort, p. 158, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, 2007.
 Avocats Sans Frontières, Etat des lieux de la détention provisoire en République démocratique du Congo juillet 2006 - avril 2008, p. 5, www.asf.be/publications/RDC_EtudeDétPréventive2008.pdf, Sep., 2008. ECPM reports the case of a 23 year old boy, who in 2005 was already awaiting his trial in jail for 5 years, who had been taken out of the prison to be executed and remained 3 hours bounded at the stake before the authorities realised he had not been convicted yet (Maela Bégot & Liévin Ngondji, Les « sans-voix » de la République démocratique du Congo – Enquête dans les couloirs de la mort de Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Buluwo, Kindu et Goma, Rapport de mission, Août à octobre 2005, in Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Abolir… Rapport annuel de l’association ECPM pour l’abolition universelle de la peine de mort, pp. 179-180, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, 2007).
 Maela Bégot & Liévin Ngondji, Les « sans-voix » de la République démocratique du Congo – Enquête dans les couloirs de la mort de Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Buluwo, Kindu et Goma, Rapport de mission, Août à octobre 2005, in Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Abolir… Rapport annuel de l’association ECPM pour l’abolition universelle de la peine de mort, pp. 189, 191, 212, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, 2007.
 U.N.G.A. Human Rights Council, Promotion And Protection Of All Human Rights, Civil, Political, Economic, Social And Cultural, Including The Right To Development, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Leandro Despouy, Addendum, Mission to The Democratic Republic of the Congo, p. 2, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/8/4/Add.2, Apr. 11, 2008.
 Maela Bégot & Liévin Ngondji, Les « sans-voix » de la République démocratique du Congo – Enquête dans les couloirs de la mort de Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Buluwo, Kindu et Goma, Rapport de mission, Août à octobre 2005, in Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Abolir… Rapport annuel de l’association ECPM pour l’abolition universelle de la peine de mort, pp. 197, 207, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, 2007.
 U.N.G.A. Human Rights Council, Report of the Special Rapporteur on independence of judges and lawyers, Gabriela Carina Knaul de Albuquerque e Silva, Addendum, Communications to and from Governments, pp. 53-54, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/14/26/Add.1, Jun. 18, 2010.
 Maela Bégot & Liévin Ngondji, Les « sans-voix » de la République démocratique du Congo – Enquête dans les couloirs de la mort de Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Buluwo, Kindu et Goma, Rapport de mission, Août à octobre 2005, in Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Abolir… Rapport annuel de l’association ECPM pour l’abolition universelle de la peine de mort, pp. 204, 205, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, 2007.
 Maela Bégot & Liévin Ngondji, Les « sans-voix » de la République démocratique du Congo – Enquête dans les couloirs de la mort de Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Buluwo, Kindu et Goma, Rapport de mission, Août à octobre 2005, in Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Abolir… Rapport annuel de l’association ECPM pour l’abolition universelle de la peine de mort, pp. 136, 137, 155, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, 2007.
 U.N. ICCPR, Human Rights Committee, Consideration of reports submitted by States Parties under article 40 of the covenant, Concluding Observations of the Human Rights Committee, Democratic Republic of the Congo, U.N. Doc. CCPR/C/COD/CO/3, Apr. 26, 2006.
 U.N. ICCPR, Human Rights Committee, Consideration of reports submitted by States Parties under article 40 of the covenant, Concluding Observations of the Human Rights Committee, Democratic Republic of the Congo, p. 5, para. 17, U.N. Doc. CCPR/C/COD/CO/3, Apr. 26, 2006.
 U.N. ICCPR, Human Rights Committee, Consideration of reports submitted by States Parties under article 40 of the covenant, Concluding Observations of the Human Rights Committee, Democratic Republic of the Congo, p. 6, para. 20, U.N. Doc. CCPR/C/COD/CO/3, Apr. 26, 2006.
 U.N. ICCPR, Human Rights Committee, Consideration of reports submitted by States Parties under article 40 of the covenant, Concluding Observations of the Human Rights Committee, Democratic Republic of the Congo, p. 6, para. 21, U.N. Doc. CCPR/C/COD/CO/3, Apr. 26, 2006.
 U.N.G.A. Human Rights Council, Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review Democratic Republic of the Congo, pp. 12, 14, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/13/8, Jan. 4, 2010.
Maela Bégot & Liévin Ngondji, Les « sans-voix » de la République démocratique du Congo – Enquête dans les couloirs de la mort de Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Buluwo, Kindu et Goma, Rapport de mission, Août à octobre 2005, in Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Abolir… Rapport annuel de l’association ECPM pour l’abolition universelle de la peine de mort, pp. 133-226, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, 2007.
U.N.G.A. Human Rights Council, Promotion And Protection Of All Human Rights, Civil, Political, Economic, Social And Cultural, Including The Right To Development, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Leandro Despouy, Addendum, Mission to The Democratic Republic of the Congo, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/8/4/Add.2, Apr. 11, 2008.
Franck Gorchs-Chacou & Caroline Sculier, The Death Penalty in the Great Lakes Region of Africa, Protagonists, Arguments and Strategies, World Coalition Against Death Penalty, http://www.worldcoalition.org/modules/wfdownloads/singlefile.php?cid=25&lid=323, May 2008.
Avocats Sans Frontières, Etat des lieux de la détention provisoire en République démocratique du Congo juillet 2006 - avril 2008, http://www.asf.be/publications/publication_RDC_detention_provisoire.pdf, Sep., 2008.
Avocats Sans Frontières, Case Study, the application of the Rome statute of the International Criminal Court by the courts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, http://www.asf.be/publications/ASF_CaseStudy_RomeStatute_Light_PagePerPage.pdf, 2009.
U.N.G.A., Human Rights Council, Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review Democratic Republic of the Congo, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/13/8, Jan. 4, 2010.
U.N.G.A. Human Rights Council, Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights and the activities of her Office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/13/64, Jan. 28, 2010.
U.N.G.A. Human Rights Council, Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Philip Alston, Addendum, Mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/14/24/Add.3, Jun. 1, 2010.
U.N.G.A. Human Rights Council, Report of the Special Rapporteur on independence of judges and lawyers, Gabriela Carina Knaul de Albuquerque e Silva, Addendum, Communications to and from Governments, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/14/26/Add.1, Jun. 18, 2010.

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