In a country where detention conditions for women and children remain deeply alarming, Ius Stella has launched the Nyota Program, a new initiative providing regular food assistance to incarcerated women and children living in detention in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A holistic assistance program for the most vulnerable
Launched at Beni Central Prison, the Nyota Program addresses an urgent and often overlooked need: ensuring that incarcerated women — and the children who live behind bars with them — have stable access to a balanced diet. The program currently supports 75 women and 9 children, including 13 pregnant women and 9 mothers accompanied by their children.
Three times a week, two volunteer cooks visit the prison to prepare three daily meals for these women and children. On other days, lunch boxes are distributed to ensure continuity of care and nutrition. Whenever possible, surplus food is also redistributed to ill detainees, easing some of the daily hardships faced by the most vulnerable.
In its first month alone, the program delivered 1,208 meals, directly improving the health and well-being of its beneficiaries.
A commitment to justice and dignity
Since its inception, Ius Stella has advocated for the rights of the most vulnerable — especially incarcerated women and children — through concrete actions that promote access to justice and more humane living conditions in detention.
In addition to the food program, Ius Stella has launched a free legal aid initiative within Beni Central Prison, providing legal consultations to women in detention and assisting them in navigating their legal cases.
The Nyota Program is just the beginning of a broader effort to restore dignity in the Congolese justice system. Ius Stella calls on public institutions, humanitarian actors, and civil society to join forces in strengthening access to adequate food, medical care, and legal support for incarcerated women, a population far too often neglected.
END
About Ius Stella
Ius Stella is a non-profit organization transforming the way justice is rendered, measured, and experienced. We started our work in the Democratic Republic of Congo where we stand with victims of systemic injustices—those whose rights have been violated, whose humanity has been denied, and whose voices too often go unheard. Our work challenges traditional repressive systems and paves the way for a new model of justice: one that is transparent, effective, and people-centered.