The Pygmies, a stigmatized people, now enjoy protection in the Democratic Republic of Congo. After 14 years of advocacy at national and international level, a law enshrining positive discrimination in favor of the Pygmies has just been promulgated.
With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Pascal Mulegwa
Pygmy defense organizations rejoice. Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi has just promulgated a law protecting this discriminated population. The Pygmies will benefit from free healthcare, legal fees including the appointment of a lawyer before the courts.
If free education is only guaranteed for all at the primary level in the country, the law extends it for Pygmies to all levels of primary, secondary and vocational education in public schools. Pygmies are also exempted from marriage fees in the civil registry.
A special protection fund planned
Expensive advantages for the State and not yet supported in the budget, but the Dynamics of groups of indigenous peoples (DGPA) remains optimistic. ” We know that our country is now the beneficiary of several funds in the context of climate change because it is said that the Pygmies are the custodians par excellence of the forestsexplains Patrick Saidi, coordinator of the DGPA. The exchanges currently, it is to see how the State can define a percentage at the level of the national budget. We will do the same work with the development partners of the Congolese State: the World Bank, the European Union so that the vision of the law is reflected in all the financial agreements that our State will continue to take. “.
It is expected that the Prime Minister will create a special fund for the protection of the rights of Pygmy peoples. The law is accompanied by prison sentences for anyone found guilty of discriminating against Pygmies in terms of schooling or employment. One million Pygmies currently live in 21 of the 26 Congolese provinces.
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