Before 2024, a citizen asked for a bribe at a prosecutor’s office in Kinshasa had nowhere to turn. In 2024, they could call a toll-free number, talk to a focal point in their community, and count on civil society to follow up.
On 1 April 2024, CERC and RCN Justice & Démocratie (RCN J&D) signed a specific partnership agreement to implement the anti-corruption component of the second phase of the PARJ2, funded by the European Union, and of the project REPLIC, co-funded by the DGD. These projects contribute to result 14 of axis 4 of the National Justice Reform Policy (2017–2026).
Concluded until 31 December 2024, the agreement first covered the social alert and response system. An amendment signed on 12 August 2024 added support to university anti-corruption clubs and journalism.
March–May 2024Setting up the social alert system
With technical support from RCN J&D, CERC developed the system’s tools: a guide to the social alert system, a memorandum of understanding with the focal points and an implementation strategy.
The system was run by a network of 9 focal points, appointed by civil society organisations and anti-corruption networks – ACVDP, PONJA PONJA, C4, GREM, COCOLUCO, AFEVOPHA and CERC – to collect and pass on corruption complaints from their communities. On 6 May 2024, RCN J&D handed CERC 9 phones and 8 SIM cards, which CERC distributed to the focal points.
June–July 2024Support from judicial authorities
CERC met the prosecutors and heads of division of the public prosecutor’s offices of Kalamu, Ndjili and Matete to present the social alert system. Mission orders allowed 7 focal points to access the courts. Several judicial authorities authorised the display of the system’s toll-free number in their jurisdictions.
To find resource persons within the justice system, CERC also ran small surveys among litigants and traders near prosecutors’ offices and courts, to identify magistrates known for their integrity.
May–July 2024Awareness raising
- From 15 May 2024, word-of-mouth awareness raising among the general public, and participation in partners’ activities in Kisenso, Ndjili and the CPA neighbourhood: about 45 people reached.
- From 8 June 2024, awareness raising among litigants and the managers of restaurants and small shops near the courts of Ndjili and Kalamu: about 60 people (27 women and 33 men).
- 70 posters with the toll-free number, out of 150 planned, put up in June 2024 at the prosecutors’ offices, high courts and peace courts of Kalamu, Ndjili and Matete, and at the Ndjili notary office, with the authorities’ approval.
- 250 leaflets printed in July 2024 for Kalamu and Matete; 80 had been handed out by the end of the month, as the public transport strike of 29 July interrupted the activities.
The message was simple: “Together, let us say no to corruption, by reporting corrupt acts and practices in the justice sector.”
May–July 2024Alerts and responses
CERC received its first 3 alerts in May 2024. By the end of June, it had received and documented 7, of which 3 could not be followed up because the victims or witnesses withdrew for fear of reprisals. The alerts came from the focal points, public speaking forums, awareness-raising activities and the toll-free number.
CERC responded through advocacy with judicial authorities – notably with ACVDP, in Kalamu and Ndjili, from 8 June 2024 – and by advising and assisting litigants. On 26 July 2024, it supported ACVDP in following a case before the Kalamu high court about a piece of evidence that had disappeared.
Before
No channel for citizens to report corruption in the justice sector; victims kept silent for fear of reprisals.
After
A toll-free number posted in courts, with the authorities’ approval; 9 focal points in the communities; 7 alerts documented by the end of June 2024, and advocacy and legal assistance in response.
