Empire Of Silence

For 25 years, the Democratic Republic of Congo has been ravaged by a war that has been largely ignored by the media and the international community. The victims run into the hundreds of thousands, if not millions. The perpetrators of these crimes are countless: rebel movements, but also armies, those of the Congo and neighboring countries… All of them seem to be caught up in a dizzying array of killings, for power, for money, in order to monopolize the wealth of the Congo with impunity, in the midst of general indifference. An uncompromising documentary, Empire of Silence does not spare any of the actors in the tragedy, nor the Congolese leaders, neighboring countries, nor international institutions. It is based on a UN document, the Mapping Report, which lists the violence committed in the Congo between 1993 and 2003, a disturbing document that was buried. Empire of Silence is an epic tale that traverses the vast Congo, from the mountains and forests of Kivu to the banks of the river in Équateur Province.
Thierry Michel (Belgium)
Florence Saâdi
Christine Pireaux (Belgium)
Florence Saâdi (Belgium)
Les Films de la Passerelle
- Institutional Reforms and Non-Repetition: Prioritize vetting of the security sector to remove individuals, particularly in the army, police, intelligence services, and judiciary, involved in serious human rights violations.
- Judicial Mechanisms: Establish an International Criminal Tribunal for the DRC or a hybrid criminal court, along with specialized mixed chambers within the Congolese judicial system, to ensure justice for victims and end impunity for the most severe crimes.
- Reparation Programs: Implement both judicial and administrative reparation programs, encompassing material and symbolic, individual, and collective forms of redress.
- Truth-Seeking Mechanisms: Create Truth Commissions at regional, national, and provincial levels, while supporting civil society-driven initiatives to preserve historical memory, such as commemorations, monuments, online memorials, and the distribution of the film Empire of Silence in collaboration with human rights organizations.
- Empire of Silence has made a significant impact through screenings in cinemas, at various festivals, and on television in Europe, America, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This success was especially evident during its tour in Europe, America, and the DRC, drawing the support of several thousand enthusiastic viewers.
- In response to the film's success, we have launched an impactful campaign titled “Justice for Congo." This campaign is designed to increase public awareness of war crimes and the ongoing battle against impunity in the Democratic Republic of Congo, leveraging a diverse range of content distributed on social media platforms.
- The campaign primarily features video clips available in both French and English, prominently accessible on platforms such as YouTube and Facebook. Furthermore, a dedicated website, www.justiceforcongo.com, serves as a central hub for information and engagement related to this important cause.
Thierry Michel (Belgium)
Florence Saâdi (Belgium)
PANZI Foundation RDC
Fondation Roi Baudouin
FIDH – Fédération Internationale pour les Droits Humains
Royaume de Belgique – Service public fédéral – Affaires étrangères, Commerce extérieur et coopération au Développement
CNCD-11.11.11 – Centre national de coopération au développement
Centre d’Action Laïque
Justice & Paix
Human Rights Watch
Trial International
Parlement européen
PANZI Foundation RDC
Fondation Roi Baudouin
FIDH – Fédération Internationale pour les Droits Humains
Royaume de Belgique – Service public fédéral – Affaires étrangères, Commerce extérieur et coopération au Développement
CNCD-11.11.11 – Centre national de coopération au développement
Centre d’Action Laïque
Justice & Paix
Human Rights Watch
Trial International
Parlement européen