This report covering the period from November 2011 to May 2013 assesses the progress made by the authorities in the implementation of recommendations made by UN human rights mechanisms. It commends important developments, including the promulgation of a law on the establishment of a national human rights commission. It also notes the improvements in holding State agents accountable for human rights violations, including sexual violence. However, the High Commissioner emphasizes that the overall human rights situation has significantly deteriorated since her previous report to the Human Rights Council, especially in the eastern part of the country, where a significant increase in the number of human rights violations and serious violations of international humanitarian law that could amount to war crimes and committed by national security and defence forces, as well as by foreign and national armed groups, including the March 23 Movement (M23), was observed. Other armed groups are also responsible for gross human rights violations and have sought to extend their control over areas rich in natural resources in the eastern part of the country, committing attacks against civilians, often on ethnic grounds. In the context of operations against M23, members of the Congolese defence and security forces allegedly committed gross human rights violations, including mass rape. The presidential and legislative elections held in November 2011 were characterized by serious human rights violations, committed mostly against opposition party members and their supporters, and also against human rights defenders and journalists. Little progress was observed with regard to the prosecution of the alleged perpetrators.
Publication date: 12 July 2013