Augustin Alphonse Bofaka
Augustin Alphonse Bofaka is the coordinator of Centre d' Animation pour le Development et l'Auto Promotion – CADAP (Centre for Assistance to Development and Self-Promotion), a non-governmental organisation that advocates for the protection of community forests and promotes environmental preservation. CADAP is a member organisation of the Réseau d’information et d’Appui aux ONG nationales – RIAO-RDC (Network of Information and Support to National NGOs), a network of 256 non-governmental organisations and 333 farmers' associations across different provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. RIAO-RDC has played a prominent role working with communities in rural areas of the DRC to fight for local communities' rights to the land. The network has also denounced several human rights abuses committed by multinational companies in rural areas, particularly FERONIA.
The situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains volatile and human rights defenders (HRDs) remain at grave risk. They continue to operate at serious personal risk in an atmosphere of violence, hostility and instability. Absence of the rule of law and a climate of impunity prevail. As a consequence of carrying out activities such as investigating and exposing atrocities, combating sexual violence, advocacy with respect to the elections, and independent journalism, many HRDs have been subject to threats and attacks.
