This report released by the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) focuses on human rights violations committed between 1st October 2011 and 31 January 2012 in the context of the presidential and legislative elections of November 2011. During the period under review, the UNJHRO registered 345 human rights violations, with at least 769 victims. In particular, the UNJHRO can confirm that at least 41 people were killed and 168 victims of violations of their right to physical integrity, while almost 400 were victims of violations of their right to liberty and security of the person. In addition, the UNJHRO has documented a further 26 violations of the right of peaceful assembly, 42 violations of the right to freedom of expression, and 18 violations of the freedom of the press. National defence and security forces were reportedly responsible for more than half of the human rights violations documented and the most serious violations were recorded in Kinshasa, as well as in the province of Kasai Oriental. The main victims were people identified as political party members or sympathisers, mainly targeted by the defence and security forces with the aim of restricting their activities. This report also analyses the actions taken by the authorities in response to the human rights violations observed and challenges to overcome in terms of the fight against impunity. It makes a series of recommendations to ensure that such human rights violations are not repeated during the next electoral cycle.

Date of publication: 11 December 2013