Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a statement yesterday (Thursday) delineating a series of human rights violations by security forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including the illegal detention and torture of pro-democracy advocates.
Approximately 40 activists were arrested in the capital city of Kinshasa in mid-March during a press conference by the Congolese and West Africans who were promoting youth participation in politics, according to a Reuters report.
Three still remain in custody of the ANR (National Intelligence Agency), although no charges have been pressed, and they have not been allowed access to an attorney, as required by Congolese law.