Press Release

New York, NY –  On October 30, the Civil Courage Prize had the distinct honor of presenting its 24th annual award to Philippe Ruvunangiza, a Congolese mineral extraction expert, environmentalist, and rights activist. Ruvunangiza joined us in New York City from his home in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for the occasion. 

Ruvunangiza, identified as “one of four climate activists to watch” by the Fund for Global Human Rights, specializes in reporting on the expansion of artisanal mining and its adverse consequences on local communities and ecology. In particular, he focuses on indigenous rights, development of sustainable social infrastructure and local market structures in eastern DRC, and the disproportionate consequences for women and girls resulting from the expansion of artisanal mining and related regional conflicts. In his acceptance remarks, Ruvunangiza called upon all of us to recognize our responsibility to use our power as constituents and consumers to support and defend exploited communities across the DRC and the African continent more broadly.

Mining in the DRC has become inextricably linked to widespread violence and damage to natural resources and biodiversity, and numerous domestic and international state and non-state actors have stakes in the expansion of the industry. Consequently, Ruvunangiza’s work is done at great personal risk. He has been subject to intimidation and immediate threats on his life from armed militia members, the Congolese government, and military personnel. Despite these risks, he continues to bravely advocate for the rights of miners, indigenous communities, and the environment – a true exemplar of civil courage. 

Ruvunangiza currently serves as the Director of the Bureau d’Etudes Scientifiques et Techniques (Office of Scientific and Technical Studies (BEST)). BEST is a nonprofit organization and research body. As BEST’s Director, Ruvunangiza has played an important role in getting new mining law(s) in eastern Congo to include reforms favorable to community rights. Ruvunangiza works with miners to establish a discourse among government officials, regular and non-regular armed forces, and mining companies in eastern DRC. He works to secure miners’ rights to safe and hygienic working conditions and establish national standards for corporate social responsibility (CSR) within the mining industry. Environmental advocacy is also central to his work; he lobbies and conducts research focused on addressing environmental degradation resulting from mining. Ruvunangiza also helps miners receive education and organize to demand better working conditions, fair compensation, and rights to their land.

2011 Civil Courage Prize winner Lydia Cacho Ribeiro, described as “perhaps Mexico’s most famous investigative journalist and women’s rights advocate” by Amnesty International, gave keynote remarks before presenting the 2024 award to Philippe alongside Musa Train Klebnikov, Civil Courage Prize Trustee. Ribeiro’s remarks called to light how racism, colonialism, and corporate greed are at the center of the ongoing and worsening rights crisis in the DRC.

The evening also featured an expert panel discussion moderated by Prof. Michael Posner, Director of the Center for Business and Human Rights at the NYU Stern School of Business; Ribeiro and Ruvunangiza were panelists, joined by Prof. Jackie Dugard, a Senior Lecturer at Columbia University and Visiting Professor of Law at Johannesburg’s University of Witwatersrand. The groups’ respective focuses on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and human rights; violence and sexual abuse of women and girls; mineral extraction and associated rights abuses in the DRC; and social and climate justice made for a riveting and targeted discussion.

The discussion reminds us all that in the face of great adversity, we must protect those on the frontlines of movements for liberation: those who demonstrate a steadfast resistance to evil at great personal risk – those who embody civil courage.

The Board of Trustees of the Civil Courage Prize is honored to welcome Philippe into its esteemed community of laureates, and salutes his efforts to protect exploited communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

All photos credited to Melanie Einzig; Melanie Einzig Photography

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