Tomorrow, Tuesday 9 April, Dr Debora Kayembe will travel to Belfast, the capital of the Republic of Ireland, to begin a series of important visits and meetings in the courts and tribunals, as well as at Queen’s University in Ireland.
At the heart of her programme is a high-profile meeting with the Lady Justice and Judge in Residence, Madam Justice Denise McBride, a key figure in the Irish justice system. This discussion promises to explore crucial issues in the field of justice and international law, and will focus primarily on the security situation in the east of the DRC. Dr Debora Kayembe will be speaking on behalf of millions of Congolese, exposing the war in the east and the devastating conflicts of armed groups that constantly threaten the territorial integrity of the DRC.
The visit will continue on Wednesday 10 April with a series of meetings at Queen’s University Belfast. Dr Kayembe Buba will meet several university authorities for intensive discussions on the academic and legal world, including Professor Ian Greer, Vice-Chancellor of the University, and Dr Ryan Feeney, Vice-Chancellor for Strategic Engagement and External Affairs.
The visit will also provide an opportunity to present the ‘Deep Congo’ campaign, which kicks off in May. This campaign aims to understand the challenges facing Congolese communities, including war, armed conflict, poverty and other major social problems. Legal researchers at Queen’s University Belfast are ready to open discussions and make a significant contribution to this initiative. Their academic expertise and understanding of international law, combined with the experience and commitment of Dr Debora Kayembe, promise a fruitful collaboration to address the profound problems affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo and to support sustainable development in the region.
A crucial meeting with the BAME (Black and Minority Ethnic Group) staff group, organised by Dr Gift Sotonye Franck, is also on the agenda. This session will cover a number of relevant topics and the link between the academic and professional worlds.
Dr Debora Kayembe Buba’s visit to Ireland promises to deepen the links between the international legal and educational systems, while focusing on key themes such as justice, education and diversity, but above all security and the return to peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
