Protect women and children from all forms of sexual violence, Congolese Government asked
The UN Security Council has decided to extend until 31st May 2010 the deployment of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC).
The Council also decided that MONUC, working in close cooperation with the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, would, in order of priority: ensure the effective protection of civilians, humanitarian and United Nations personnel and facilities; carry out enhanced disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of Congolese armed groups, as well as disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, resettlement and reintegration of foreign armed groups; and support Government-led security-sector reform.
The Council requested the Secretary-General to conduct a strategic review of the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and MONUC’s progress towards achieving its mandate. It also requested him to further develop existing benchmarks for that purpose, and to determine, in close cooperation with the Congolese Government and troop- and police-contributing countries, the modalities of a reconfiguration of MONUC’s mandate, in particular the critical tasks that must be accomplished before the Mission could envisage any drawdown without triggering a relapse into instability.
Expressing extreme concern over continued attacks against civilians, widespread sexual violence, recruitment of child soldiers and extrajudicial executions, the Council emphasized that the protection of civilians must be given first priority in the allocation of available capacity and resources over any other tasks. In the context of civilian protection, it urged the Congolese Government to establish a sustainable peace in the eastern part of the country, to ensure respect for human rights and an end to impunity, and to develop a security sector that fully respected the rule of law.
In that light, the Council decided that MONUC should immediately withdraw support from any brigades of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) found to have breached international human rights, humanitarian or refugee law.
Authorizing MONUC to use all necessary means, within the limits of its capacity and in the areas of its deployment, to carry out its mandated tasks, the Council demanded that all armed groups, in particular the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR) and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), immediately cease all forms of violence and human rights abuse against civilians, in particular gender-based violence, including rape and other forms of sexual abuse.
The Council also demanded that the Government take immediate measures to protect women and children from all forms of sexual violence. It urged the Government to ensure the full implementation of its “zero-tolerance policy” with respect to discipline and human rights violations, including sexual and gender-based violence by FARDC elements. It further urged the thorough investigation of all reports of such violations, with the support of MONUC. All those responsible should be brought to justice through a robust and independent process.
The Council requested the Secretary-General to continue to investigate fully allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by civilian and military personnel of MONUC, and to take the appropriate measures.
Demanding that all armed groups, including the FDLR, the LRA and other foreign groups, immediately lay down their arms, the Council demanded further that all Congolese armed groups present themselves without further delay or preconditions to national authorities or MONUC, and that the foreign armed groups similarly present themselves.
Following the resolution’s adoption, the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo said that peace, particularly in the east, was the highest priority of President Joseph Kabila and the Congolese people, adding: “Congolese women and men don’t want to be any longer beasts of burden led to the slaughter.”
He emphasized that part of the solution to his country’s turmoil lay in the understanding and cohesion of the Security Council.
