Héritiers de la Justice (Heirs of Justice) is a Congolese NGO and human rights organisation which specialises in promoting peace in the Great Lakes Region, particularly in South Kivu. It was founded in 1991 by three people who were personally affected by the repressive, dictatorial and violent governing tactics of the Mobutu regime. There are currently 10 employees. The organisation provides training, information and mediation to promote justice and peace in the DR Congo. Héritiers has worked with many international organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Their work is exemplified by the ‘Defence and Mediation Committees’ (CMDs) project, where village level organisations monitor human rights and mediate conflicts. Héritiers have set up 20 such committees, made up of local people such as pastors, nurses and civil servants.

Abductions

The work is dangerous and many members have been jailed for their work, but the committees are an essential tool for learning about community conflicts. In one case, the CMD was able to secure the rescue of a local woman who had been abducted by Interahamwe forces.