Environmental and human rights defenders in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are under serious threat. The current law, instead of safeguarding their vital work, puts them in greater danger, especially those standing up for nature and community rights.
In the Lake Albert region, the stakes are particularly high. Oil exploration is wreaking havoc on local ecosystems and threatening the livelihoods of communities like fishermen, who have long been natural protectors of the lake’s resources.
But instead of protecting defenders, the DRC’s new laws are criminalizing them—leaving them vulnerable to violence, legal attacks, and putting both their lives and the environment at risk.
That’s why our 2024 Civic Space Global Citizen Prize winner Olivier Ndoole has launched a petition calling on President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi to revise laws to protect those fighting on the frontlines of environmental and human rights crises.
This is a global issue. As the planet faces unprecedented climate challenges, we all have a role to play in protecting those leading the charge for a sustainable future.
Share this petition and help amplify the call for justice in the DRC. Together, we can protect these courageous defenders and push for real climate action.