Brussels, 07/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - The EU is shocked by the collective rapes committed in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between 30 July and 4 August last and believes that these crimes should not go unpunished.
In a resolution adopted on Thursday 7 October in Brussels, by a very large majority (585 votes in favour, 8 against, with 34 abstentions), the European Parliament harshly condemned these rapes used as a new weapon of war, as well as the human rights violations against at least 500 women and children in the eastern mining basin of the Congo. The European Parliament also deplores the fact that the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo) was unable to provide protection to victims. MEPs are calling on the UN and Kinshasa to proceed to an impartial and far reaching investigation into these attacks perpetrated by the Maï-Maï rebels and elements from the FDLR (Forces démocratiques pour la libération du Rwanda), who have indiscriminately targeted young girls, women as old as 75 and children, whether they are girls or boys. These crimes should be taken up at the International Criminal Court, argue MEPs. The EP is calling for the creation of a genuine national army, which is correctly paid and trained so that it is able to control the eastern mineral rich part of the country. The European Parliament also appeals for reform of the justice system and advocates that prevention, protection and fighting impunity for sexual violence are at the heart of a programmes, as well as assistance to victims and their reintegration.
Jerzy Buzek, the president of the parliament said that, “this resolution from the parliament is a sad reminder of the terrible situation affecting human rights in the DCR and I launch an urgent appeal to the international community to do everything possible to put an end to the status quo”. He regretted that, “violence is part of the daily life of too many Congolese people”. He also encouraged, “president Kabila to take courageous action to resolve the human rights situation in the DCR and respect his commitments to the international community but, more importantly, his commitments to his own people”.
In a declaration published the same day, Catherine Ashton, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and vice president of the European Commission welcomed, on behalf of the EU, the publication of the report from the United Nations High Commission on serious human rights violations and international humanitarian law committed in DCR between 1993 and 2003 - the years of war. The declaration stipulates that, “the European Union considers the report an additional contribution in the global fight against impunity for human rights violations. The EU recalls its determination to support the prevention of crimes violating human rights and humanitarian law, and the need to hold accountable the perpetrators of such crimes. The European Union notes the comments by the DRC, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Angola published by OHCHR, and believes they should be assessed”. (A.N. / transl. fl)