The Peace and Human Rights Centre (PHRC) was founded in 1998, during a particularly brutal phase of the war in the eastern DR Congo. It was set up in response to the many abuses, injustices and human rights violations which have occurred in South and North Kivu since 1996. A group of students, lawyers, teachers and other professionals came together to create the centre in order to promote peace and human rights in their community.

Promoting Peace in South and North Kivu

After decades of war in the DR Congo, the organisation perceived that ‘peace’ and ‘human rights’ were empty words to most people in North and South Kivu. In response, the PHRC run a series of initiatives aimed at restoring hope for a future free from violence and injustice.

Centre members identify local conflicts and raise awareness about them by starting discussions with community members and documenting them. Members gather together the community to discuss the conflict and attempt to resolve it. If this is successful, celebrations are held to mark the end of the conflict.

Training is provided for local leaders and government officers in peace and human rights. The centre has produced an 8-page bulletin called ‘Let’s Defend Our Rights’, and distributed around 1,000 copies throughout the community and private sectors. Centre members are also involved in lobbing UN agencies to support victims and promote the rule of law.