DRC : we must bring to justice those responsible for mass rape

11 Sep 2010

DRC : we must bring to justice those responsible for mass rape

New York, 7 September 2010 - Sent at the end of August in the Democratic Republic of Congo ( DRC) by UN chief Ban Ki - moon to shed light on the circumstances of mass rape in the east , the Under - Secretary General for Operations of peacekeeping, Atul Khare , reiterated on Tuesday at the Security Council, the importance of putting an end to impunity and to mobilize the necessary resources to bring to justice those responsible for the crimes.

"It is essential that those responsible for these heinous crimes are promptly arrested and brought to justice, " said Atul Khare. He recommended that members of the Security Council adopt sanctions against the leadership of the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda ( FDLR ) both inside the country and outside .

"One of the main findings of my visit is that rape is the only violence in which communities tend to stigmatize the victim rather than prosecute those responsible. The victims are victims twice : first by the authors and then by their communities, " he said before the 15-member Security Council.

At least 240 civilians have been violated in 13 villages along a stretch of road 21 km from the territory of Banamukira between 30 July and 2 August . The attackers blocked the road and prevented the villagers from reaching the external communications to ask for help. Many houses were also looted .

To gather information, Atul Khare visited the villages of Kirumba Kibua , Bukavu and Uvira . In Kinshasa, the Congolese capital , he met with government officials , including Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister and with the Adviser to the President on the Congolese security . He also met with representatives of NGOs and civil society.

The Assistant Secretary General for Operations of peacekeeping has advocated " keeping the military pressure on illegal armed groups , the implementation of non-military measures to solve the problem of the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda ( FDLR) , combating the illegal exploitation of resources that clearly brings the violence in the region , restoring state authority in areas of conflict ."

He also stressed that under the circumstances , the solution in the long term is to "strengthen the security capabilities of the authorities and the rule of law , in particular, transform the military and police forces to protect the civilian population.

Recalling that "the protection of civilians is the first responsibility of the State, its national army and police forces , we have also failed . " We must do better, " he added .

He also announced that effective September 1, the Stabilization Mission in United Nations Democratic Republic of Congo ( MONUSCO ) had launched Operation 'Shop Window ' in areas of Pinga Kibua and Walikale in the East to reassurance and support the Congolese security forces . The deployment of 750 peacekeepers on the perimeter of the recent violence will be extended until Sept. 10 and probably beyond that date.

Also speaking Tuesday before the Security Council, the UN Special Representative for sexual violence in the candied , Margot Wallström, expressed outrage at the rape .

In the village of luving , one of the women told a horrific tale of armed aggression , reported Margot Wallström . "She described how the gunmen went from house to house by forcing open the gates, and how people could not escape when the village iwas surrounded. She described how the gunmen inserted their hands into the genitals of women in search of gold. Many women were raped in gang rapes by five or six men at once, " Margot Wallström said, adding "Women of the Democratic Republic of the Congo deserve better. "

"It is clear that rape is gradually becoming 'weapon of choice ' in the East of the DRC , reaching epidemic proportions " she complained and continued " I urge the Council to take adequate measures for the atrocities committed in Kibua starting with the commanders responsible for these armed groups."

" It is our collective responsibility towards the survivors and our collective response to the perpetrators who are watching and waiting to see how the world reacts" she said "Our policy of ' zero tolerance 'can be realized where there is ' zero result.'"

On 26 August , following consultation on the situation in DRC , the Member States of the Security Council of the United Nations expressed " outrage "against the mass rape by members of the FDLR and Mai Mai militia .

These rapes and assaults are " another example of the serious level of sexual violence and insecurity that continues to plague in the eastern DRC, Ban Ki -moon said before the Security Council .