Investigation into mass rapes and other human rights violations in Walikale reveals prevailing lack of accountability Kinshasa/Geneva, 6 July 2011: A UN investigation into serious human rights violations perpetrated in Walikale territory, North Kivu, where more than 387 people were raped between 30 July and 2 August last year, reveals continuing lack of accountability, justice and security for victims, according to a report released today. The…
Kinshasa, 4 July 2011 - Four years on, exactly since July 2007, the Civil Affairs Section of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) and its partners, including the European Union (EU), the South African-based Electoral Institute for the Sustainability of Democracy in Africa (EISA), and the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP), in cooperation with the Congolese Ministry of Planning, have bolstered…
Goma, 23 June 2011 – The Indian Battalion of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) inaugurated a community centre along with a kindergarten block in Kurumba, a small towm located some 200 km north of Goma, the provincial capital of Nord-Kivu on 14 June. Through this initiative, the Indian peacekeepers are expected to provide basic English courses, sewing, and the use of computers for young men and…
Beni, 25 June 2011 – The United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) lent its support to the High Court of Goma to set up a mobile court in Kasindi, a town in Nord-Kivu province, at the border with Uganda. The five-day trial opened on 23 June 2011. This activity is part of MONUSCO'S legal assistance to the DRC's judiciary system pursuant to the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program of the Canadian…
Kinshasa, 24 June 2011 - The United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, held annually on 26 June, was celebrated In Kinshasa on the 24 of June. Key official figures who attended the ceremony included the Minister of Human Rights and Justice, Mr. Luzolo Bambi, and the Deputy-Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in DRC, Ms Leila Zerrougui. Along with them were several representatives of human rights and civil…
Beni, 25 June 2011 – The Nord Kivu-based office of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) organized between 17 and 25 June an all-encompassing sensitization program for sections of the Congolese National Armed Forces (FARDC), National Police (PNC), National Intelligence Agency (ANR), civil society organizations and community leaders. The participants were drawn from the districts of Luna, Mutwanga…
Kisangani, 27 June 2011 – To commemorate the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the Human Rights Section of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) in Province Orientale, organized a workshop on 25 June to sensitize the local population on issues pertaining to torture. The workshop took place at the Palm Beach Hotel in Kisangani, the provincial capital, bringing together State and…
Kinshasa, 29 June 2011 – Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo recently detected several cases of cholera in the capital, Kinshasa, as well as inside the country. The outbreak has been confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and several NGOs working in the health sector. The United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) has also observed…
Bukavu, 01 July 2011 - Since May 2011, the South Kivu Brigade launched four military operations, each lasting two weeks and they were given different names. The goals of these different operations are not always clearly understood by the population who would, on the contrary, like MONUSCO to conduct one big unilateral operation to chase out all the armed groups. To tell us about the Why and How of these operations, the South Kivu Brigade…
Kinshasa, 24 June 2011: The Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Roger Meece, expresses deep concern over the reports of mass rapes in Fizi Territory, South Kivu, and launches a joint assessment mission to the affected villages as part of the United Nations response to these reports. According to humanitarian organizations present in this remote area, mass rapes were perpetrated as part of an attack on the villages of Nakiele, Abala…