DRC: Justice Needed in Congo, HRW says

Date: 
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Source: 
UPI
Countries: 
Africa
Central Africa
Congo (Kinshasa)
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

World leaders are called on to support a mixed tribunal to prosecute human rights crimes in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Human Rights Watch said.

A U.N. human rights team determined that more than 300 civilians were raped in the Congo by militants July 30-Aug. 2. The U.N. peacekeeping mission in the area deflected criticism that it ignored warnings that surfaced days before the rapes occurred some 20 miles from their base.

Human Rights Watch called on the leaders of the European Union, the United States and African Union to consider a mixed tribunal to bring justice to the victims of Congolese violence.

"This is not only a moral duty toward the victims and an obligation under international law but it is also crucial to bringing sustainable peace to eastern Congo and the Great Lakes region," the rights group said in a statement.

The U.N. Security Council was called on to consider targeted sanctions against the rebel Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda and the Mai Mai militia for their role in the mass rapes.

Human Rights Watch said it welcomed a Congolese initiative to find justice and it was the moral obligation of the international community to back that objective.

"The international community has rightly expressed outrage at the shocking atrocities endured by Congolese civilians, including the widespread sexual violence against women and girls," the statement read. "But that outrage must be followed up by concrete action to end such crimes."