The laureates

Vascos SAASITA, a human rights activist for the past 14 years, is a Congolese lawyer who works to support human rights defenders and assist victims of torture and gender-based and sexual violence. As a pro-democracy activist and advocate for the abolition of the death penalty, he works and collaborates with several human rights organizations, both nationally and internationally, to promote democratic governance and the rule of law, as well as to combat corruption and all forms of discrimination. He is a co-founder of the organization “Haki Zangu Asbl,” which fights for the eradication of torture and the abolition of the death penalty by providing protection, legal assistance, and legal aid to human rights defenders and activists at risk, as well as to victims of sexual and gender-based violence.

As a member of the “Congo Peace Network,” Vascos SAASITA has worked on projects supporting the promotion of peace within civil society through protection and civic education programs at the local level in North Kivu. Finally, as a consultant on issues related to youth engagement and civic participation, he has also helped build the capacity of several thousand young leaders in civil society and citizen movements in eastern DRC on human rights, the fight against torture, democracy, and peace.