The people of the Democratic Republic of Congo have been beset by violence and human rights abuses for two decades. Crimes under international law have been committed in almost every corner of the country and are still being committed with alarming frequency. Impunity remains pervasive. This report identifies fundamental flaws within the criminal justice system that are more often than not overlooked by current policy and programmes. It examines the complementary role that some proposed transitional justice mechanisms could play.