Joint public statement - Peaceful protest is not a crime, release the 13 LUCHA human rights defenders detained in Beni, North Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo

35 signatory organisations urge the Congolese authorities to release the 13 human rights defenders (HRDs) of LUCHA, arbitrarily detained in the town of Beni after having organised a peaceful demonstration denouncing the killings of civilians in this part of the Province of North Kivu.