Ms. B, a citizen of Congo, hired our office to assist her file for asylum in 2016.
In Congo, she was threatened and severely harmed by the military members in Congo due to her affiliation with UNC and different NGO organizations fighting for women’s and children’s rights in DR of Congo. As a victims’ rights advocate in Congo, she brought forward complaints and lawsuits against the military in Congo for engaging in violations of human rights and other atrocities and rape against women and children. She and her family were threatened and detained by the police due to their participation in peaceful demonstrations against the government. Furthermore, they were harmed by the military for trying to bring complaints before the justice system exposing rape of innocent women and children at the hands of the military.
In the process of applying for asylum. Ms. B was assisted by our senior paralegal Florence Vigneau and our attorney Fabiola Cini who attended their asylum interview. Although the process took several years due to the asylum office backlog, the case was approved in 2024.
Attorney Fabiola Cini successfully argued that Ms. B was persecuted and had a well-founded fear of persecution due to the expression of her political opinion against the government and the military of Congo. In addition, she was persecuted and had a well-founded fear of persecution on account of her membership in a particular social group comprised of female attorneys who were actively working to promote and protect women’s and children’s rights in Congo; women attorneys who expose military and government wrongdoing and members of Ms. B’s family.
Ms. B’s asylum was rightfully approved by the asylum office.
