Kinshasa: Advocacy for Full Implementation of Law Eliminating Court Fees for Gender-Based Violence Victims

On November 28, 2025, an advocacy workshop was held in Kinshasa as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. The meeting brought together representatives from the judiciary, security services, government, and civil society to promote the effective implementation of the decree-law of September 11, 2023, which eliminates court fees for victims of gender-based violence.

Under the auspices of the Gender and Women's Rights Network, participants called for the removal of financial barriers to accessing justice, the training and capacity building of magistrates, and the dissemination of information about the law, particularly regarding new offenses such as forced marriage of widows, blackmail, and gender-based intimidation.

Authorities were urged to strengthen control mechanisms and provide adequate logistical resources to combat impunity and ensure better protection for women and girls across the DRC.