South Kivu: 14,200 cases of rape registered from 2005 to 2007 (UN)

South Kivu: 14,200 cases of rape registered from 2005 to 2007 (UN)
South Kivu: 14,200 cases of rape registered from 2005 to 2007 (UN)
Nina Yacoubian / MONUC
17 mar. 08 - 12.21h

The UN Human Rights Council’s Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the DRC, Mr. Titinga Frédéric Pacéré, was on his 5th work visit in the DRC from 12 to 14 March 2008. The objective of his visit is to learn about the latest happenings on the ground before presenting his report to the Council in Geneva on March 19 next. During his visit, which was limited to the capital city Kinshasa, the Independent Expert spoke with the State minister of Interior, Decentralization and Security, the minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the minister of National Defense and Former Combatants as well as the minister of Justice and Human Rights. Mr. Pacéré also met with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in the DRC and the diplomatic corps accredited in the DRC as well as representatives of human rights organizations and Civil Society members of the synergy against sexual violence. Mr. Pacéré conducted a press briefing on March 14 at MONUC headquarters where he said that the human rights situation in the DRC “continues to be preoccupying” and “rather worrying,” because insecurity is “almost everywhere” in the country, especially in the East. There are “no-law” zones where, sometimes up to 300 km round, there is no court, he said. In those zones “where the authority of the State has not reached all the areas”, “it is not only impossible to judge in court, but the jungle can only express itself and commit human rights violations.” However, Mr. Pacéré said he was happy with the Goma conference on peace, security and development held from 6 through 24 January. That event, which is “very important for the country’s history” is “a key to achieving peace in the DRC.” According to the information he received during his last visit in November 2007, the independent expert believes that insecurity has been caused by militarized forces, such as the National Congolese Police, the FARDC and the FDLR. Mr. Pacéré deplored sexual violence against women in the DRC. For instance, he said, from 2005 to 2007 in South Kivu alone, “there were 14,200 rape cases registered in the health structure of that province”. But only “287 cases were taken to court.” In order to face the human rights violations that women and children suffer, Mr. Pacéré said it would be necessary to end impunity. For that, he suggested “a complete disposition to equip the judiciary with decent pay, equipments and personnel.” Moreover, the independent expert asked for the creation of “an international jurisdiction” for the DRC “that would do more than just judging: one that would scare.” “If we have a court, warlords would be cautious, especially when the responsibility can be made the general responsibility of the superior,” he explained. About his visit in the Makala Prison, where he met with detainees, Mr. Pacere said “with reservation" since he has not yet read the relevant files, that “some are detained beyond the normal duration of detention.” Mr. Titinga Frederic Pacéré is the president and founder of the NGO “Avocats Sans Frontières” and the first president of the Bar in Burkina Faso. Currently, he is an attorney at the International Criminal Court for Rwanda in Arusha and he has been appointed independent expert on the situation of human rights in the DRC since 26 July 2004 by the UN Commission on human rights. Following his mandate, every year the independent expert must present a report on the situation of human rights in the DRC to the UN human rights Council in March and to the UN General Assembly in October.