Kinshasa, November 2nd, 2025 (CPA).- A human rights defender from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been re-elected on Friday as Vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) during its congress in Bogota, Colombia, Latin America, CPA has learned on Saturday from an association source. « At the congress of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), held in Latin America, in Bogota, which has ended on Friday, October 31st, 2025, I have just been re-elected as vice-president of this institution for a three-year term. Once again, Asadho and DRC are honoured, » has written Jean-Claude Katende, president of the African Association for the Defence of Human Rights (Asadho), on social media, before thanking everyone who has supported his candidacy. According to other sources, this international congress of the FIDH has brought together representatives of human rights organisations from around the world. ‘Mr Katende has convinced his voters with an eloquent and passionate speech, reaffirming his unwavering commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights worldwide,’ these sources have noted. And they have added: ‘His re-election is a testament to the international recognition of his expertise and unwavering dedication to the cause of fundamental rights. Under his vice-presidency, the FIDH will continue to work with determination to defend justice, freedom and human dignity wherever they are threatened.’
What is the FIDH?
The FIDH is committed to taking concrete action to ensure respect for all the rights set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including civil and political rights, as well as economic, social and cultural rights. The FIDH currently brings together 141 leagues in 100 countries, coordinating and supporting their actions and providing them with an international platform. Like the leagues that comprise it, it is non-partisan, non-denominational and independent of any government, but protects human rights defenders and mobilises the international community in favour of recognising their role and the need to protect them. In addition, this federation of human rights leagues provides daily support to victims of torture, war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide by accompanying them throughout their legal proceedings. It has also contributed significantly to the creation of the first permanent International Criminal Court, which came into force on July 1st, 2002. In addition, the FIDH carries out publicity and lobbying work on an on-going basis with intergovernmental bodies and sets up fact-finding and judicial observation missions, as well as training programmes for human rights activists. Through its studies, the FIDH has demonstrated that the death penalty is applied universally in an unfair and discriminatory manner, that it is imposed in conditions incompatible with the principles of fair trial, and that it constitutes a form of torture incompatible with the right to respect for human dignity.