|
RAPAPORT... The United Nations (UN) called upon the national army of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to suspend two of its battalions that have been involved in severe human rights violations. Investigations conducted by the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in DRC (MONUSCO) in the town of Minova and surrounding villages uncovered evidence that the two units of the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) engaged in mass rapes and other human rights violations in late November 2012, said UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky. MONUSCO informed FARDC’s chief of staff on February 4 of its findings, requesting the formal suspension of support to those two army units. The mission subsequently sent a second, and final, injunction letter on February 18, as required by the UN’s Human Rights Due Diligence Policy. “The UN mission is in touch with Congolese authorities at the highest level to ensure that the alleged perpetrators, including Congolese armed forces commanders, be brought to justice and held accountable,” Nesirky told reporters in New York today. “The mission will maintain, together with other partners, its support to Congolese judicial authorities to pursue their investigations and will offer its support for any trial to be held,” Nesirky said.
|