New report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the Democratic Republic of Congo
The new report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the Democratic Republic of the Congo in important, if troubling, reading. It says, in part:
The High Commissioner notes that the situation of human rights had
significantly deteriorated since her previous report to the Council,
especially in the eastern part of the country, where...an important
increase in the number of human rights violations and serious violations
of international humanitarian law that could amount to war crimes,
committed by national security and defence forces, as well as by foreign
and national armed groups. The increase in gross human rights
violations during the period under review can be attributed to various
armed groups, including Mouvement du 23 mars (M23), and to the security
and defence forces, in relation to M23 activities. M23 combatants were
indeed responsible for gross human rights violations and serious
violations of international humanitarian law, including summary
executions, rape and child recruitment.
Other armed groups, which took advantage of the security vacuum that
followed the redeployment of FARDC units to combat M23, since May 2012,
were also responsible for gross human rights violations and serious
violations of international humanitarian law. Such groups have sought to
extend their influence and control over areas rich in natural resources
in the eastern part of the country, committing attacks against
civilians, often on ethnic grounds. In addition, in the context of
operations against M23, members of the Congolese defence and security
forces allegedly committed gross human rights violations and serious
violations of international humanitarian law...
The full report can be read here.
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