Bunia, 08 April 2015: The UN Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) in Bunia concluded Wednesday 8 April a workshop on monitoring and reporting cases of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.

More than twenty local human rights NGOs actors attended this two-day workshop. Participants learnt, among others, UN basic principles on peace keeping, conflicts prevention and respect for Human rights. They were also trained on how to draft reports on cases of human rights violations as well as violations of the international humanitarian law, pursuant to the international standards.

Commenting on the workshop, Raphael Yoho, UNJHRO/Bunia coordinator said “this training would help them deal with the numerous cases of exactions committed daily by armed men against civilians as reported.”

For Gilbert Tandiya, head of the NGO Centre Pélikan, Journalists in Action for Peace: “Partners’ assistance in the area of safe movement, human rights activists’ field deployment to conduct investigations is highly expected.”

All the participants formulated a recommendation to the government: to resume negotiations with armed groups, especially in the South of Irumu territory. This could contribute to reducing the flare-up of cases of human rights violations and international humanitarian law perpetrated daily.

Laurent Sam OUSSOU