About SOS Information Juridique Multisectorielle
A Congolese human rights non-governmental organization committed to legal aid for vulnerable people, the protection of defenders, and community-based justice in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Founded in 2007 at the University of Bukavu
SOS IJM was founded in 2007 by law students and young members of the Bukavu Bar, outraged that justice was out of reach for farming communities and women living in poverty in South Kivu. Faced with prohibitive legal costs and the isolation of rural areas, they set up free legal advice sessions and direct listening services.
The association received official legal recognition through Ministerial Order No. 353/CAB/MIN/J&DH/2013 of the DRC Ministry of Justice and Human Rights. Over two decades of work on the ground, SOS IJM has built its network of legal clinics in Kabare Territory and expanded its work to the emergency protection of civil society actors at risk.
Special consultative status with ECOSOC of the United Nations and permanent observer status with the CADHP.
72% women in the General Assembly and 80% on the Board of Directors, putting our commitment to equality into practice.
Legal Identity
- Official Name
- SOS Information Juridique Multisectorielle Asbl (SOS IJM Asbl)
- Legal Personality
- Ministerial Order No. 353/CAB/MIN/J&DH/2013
- Date Founded
- October 15, 2007, in Bukavu (South Kivu, DRC)
- National Headquarters
- 271, Avenue Patrice Emery Lumumba, Ibanda, Bukavu
- Advocacy Office
- Silikin Village, Concession Utexafrica, Kinshasa
- 24/7 Contact Number
- +243 991 789 550
Our Mission
To guarantee universal, free access to justice for people in vulnerable situations, prevent and resolve community disputes through peaceful mediation, protect human rights defenders, and promote the rule of law at every level of Congolese society.
Our Vision
A peaceful Democratic Republic of the Congo where the law protects every person equally, where gender-based violence is prohibited and punished, and where rural communities have mediation institutions that respect human dignity.
Our 10 Operating Principles
These rules guide all SOS IJM Asbl field teams, legal staff, and paralegals in every intervention in a sensitive area.
People's Safety Comes First
The physical and psychological safety of victims, witnesses, and defenders always takes precedence over any documentation or communication objective.
Entirely Free for People in Poverty
No monetary or material compensation may be accepted from anyone receiving legal, medical, or psychosocial assistance.
Absolute Confidentiality & Informed Consent
Every statement, survivor's identity, and piece of incident data is encrypted and handled under professional secrecy, subject to prior explicit consent.
Strict Independence
Firm refusal of any political, partisan, or military influence over operational decisions and the choice of causes supported.
Impartiality in Community Mediation
Legal clinic conciliators remain strictly neutral between the parties, without favoring customary status, ethnic affiliation, or wealth.
Holistic, Survivor-Centered Approach
Coordinated response to medical needs within 72 hours, psychological support, legal assistance, and social reintegration.
Community Roots & Rural Outreach
A direct physical presence in chiefdoms and villages to remove the geographic and language barriers that keep people from their rights.
Professional Accountability & Court Approval
Every conciliation is recorded in a rigorous written instrument endorsed by the courts of first instance to prevent conflicts from recurring.
Parity & Women's Leadership
A majority of women in the association's decision-making bodies and continued advancement of women legal professionals in the field.
Active Solidarity with HRDs
Immediate mobilization of the protection network whenever a defender or journalist faces intimidation, arbitrary arrest, or abusive prosecution.
A Team Dedicated to Defending Rights
Lawyers, legal practitioners, psychologists, and paralegals combining legal expertise with an in-depth understanding of community realities in eastern DRC.
Me Huguette MATABARO ALIKA
Coordinator of SOS IJM Asbl & Member of the Bar
A committed member of the Bar, she provides operational and strategic leadership for SOS IJM Asbl. A specialist in fundamental rights, governance, and the protection of vulnerable women and children, she oversees the legal clinic network and community-based legal aid.
Me Justin BAHIRWE MUTABUNGA
Founder & Strategic Advisor / International Advocacy
Lawyer at the South Kivu Bar and founder of SOS IJM Asbl in 2007. Practitioner in transitional justice and the protection of Human Rights Defenders. Member of the delegation that accompanied Dr. Denis Mukwege to Oslo for the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.
Operational Coordination & Areas of Work
Furaha MWEZE
Responsable Genre, Inclusion & Protection des Femmes
Spécialiste de l'égalité des genres et de la prise en charge des victimes de violences sexuelles dans l'Est de la République Démocratique du Congo. Elle coordonne les actions d'autonomie juridique et économique des femmes rurales.
Bahati RUBANGO
Chargé des Cliniques Juridiques & Modes Alternatifs de Règlement des Conflits (MARC)
Juriste praticien chevronné dans l'animation des cliniques juridiques rurales de Cirunga et Mudaka, expérimenté dans la conciliation communautaire des différends fonciers et successoraux.
Christian CIFENDE
Chargé de Programmes & Monitoring des Droits Humains
Coordonne les missions d'investigation sur le terrain, la documentation des abus et le mécanisme d'alerte précoce pour la mise en sécurité des acteurs civils menacés.
Jacques BUJIRIRI
Chargé d'Enquêtes & Documentation des Violations
Enquêteur chevronné établissant les rapports circonstanciés sur les abus commis à l'encontre des civils et les atteintes aux libertés publiques.
Nancy MAISHA
Chargée d'Assistance Judiciaire des Femmes & Enfants
Représente et accompagne les personnes vulnérables devant les juridictions civiles et militaires pour l'obtention effective de réparations équitables.
Willermine
Chargée de l'Accueil & Orientation Psychosociale
Assure l'accueil bienveillant des personnes survivantes, l'écoute psychosociale confidentielle et le suivi du parcours d'accompagnement judiciaire.
Fiston BAHATI
Conseiller Juridique & Membre du Conseil d'Administration
Juriste conseil participant à l'orientation stratégique de l'association et à la supervision déontologique des interventions de terrain.
Join or Support Our Work
Institutional partnerships, direct financial support, or reporting a rights violation: our team is here for you in Bukavu and Kinshasa.
