UN experts call for resistance as battle over women’s rights intensifies

UN experts call for resistance as battle over women’s rights intensifies

GENEVA (28 June 2017) - Women’s rights are facing an alarming backlash in many parts of the world, and it is critically important to press on with further setting of standards on gender equality, a group of UN independent experts* has warned.

“The world is at a crossroads, with the very concept of gender equality being increasingly contested in some quarters,” said the experts.

“We feel it is time to reiterate the backlash against the progress which has been made in promoting and protecting women’s human rights. The polarization in the battle for rights is being demonstrated increasingly, and regressive positions have become a serious threat to the human rights legal framework.

“The international community needs to keep moving forward on setting standards on gender equality to counter the alarming trends which are undermining human rights principles and jeopardizing the gains made in women’s rights.”

The experts restate their support for the repeal of all laws that discriminate against women on traditional, cultural or religious grounds and laws that exclusively or disproportionately criminalize action or behaviour by women and girls.

They also stress women’s rights to make decisions about their own bodies, and to receive comprehensive sexuality education so they can enjoy their right to sexual and reproductive health.

“We need more than ever to protect the fundamental principle that all rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated,” the experts said.

“Despite this unbreakable principle, upheld in the 1993 Vienna Declaration on human rights, we are witnessing efforts by fundamentalist groups to undermine the foundation on which the whole human rights system is based.  Some of these efforts are based on a misuse of culture, including religion and tradition, or on claims related to State sovereignty.

“Under the disguise of protecting the family, some States are taking initiatives aimed at diluting human rights. We obviously recognise that the family is the fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection, but we insist on the need to re-assert women's right to equality in all aspects of family life and recognise that diverse forms of families exist.”

The experts stress that discriminatory practices frequently take place within families, where, for example, women and girls may be limited to certain roles, experience harmful practices and patriarchal oppression, and suffer other human rights abuses including domestic violence and sexual abuse.

The experts insist that international human rights bodies need to guard against the backlash being witnessed, to ensure that the human rights legal framework is not undermined.

“In the current context, where women’s rights are being pushed back in all regions of the world, we need to continue denouncing any anti-rights rhetoric and actions which hinder the implementation of human rights standards, in particular regarding gender equality. Without equal rights in the family, gender equality will never be achieved,” the experts conclude.

ENDS

*The experts: UN Working Group on discrimination against women in law and practice; Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights Karima Bennoune; Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief Ahmed Shaheed; Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity Vitit Muntarbhorn; and Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences Dubravka Šimonović.

The UN Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice was created by the Human Rights Council in 2011 to identify, promote and exchange views, in consultation with States and other actors, on good practices related to the elimination of laws that discriminate against women. The Group is also tasked with developing a dialogue with States and other actors on laws that have a discriminatory impact where women are concerned.

The Working Group is composed of five independent experts: the Current Chair-Rapporteur Alda Facio (Costa Rica), Kamala Chandrakirana (Indonesia), Frances Raday (Israel/United Kingdom), Emna Aouij (Tunisia) and Eleonora Zielinska (Poland).  

The Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms. Special Procedures mandate-holders are independent human rights experts appointed by the Human Rights Council to address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. They are not UN staff and are independent from any government or organization. They serve in their individual capacity and do not receive a salary for their work.

For inquiries and media requests, please contact: Bernadette Arditi (+41 22 917 9159 or +41 79 752 0483 / barditi@ohchr.org) or Hannah Wu (+41 22 917 9159 / hwu@ohchr.org ) or write to wgdiscriminationwomen@ohchr.org

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Civilians trapped in Al-Raqqa in urgent need of protection / Syrie: Les civils pris au piège à Raqqa doivent absolument être protégés

La version française se trouve ci-dessous

Arabic version attached

Syria: Civilians trapped in Al-Raqqa in urgent need of protection

GENEVA (28 June 2017) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on Wednesday expressed grave concern for the fate of civilians caught up in the anti-ISIL offensive in Al-Raqqa, where up to 100,000 civilians are effectively trapped as the air and ground offensive intensifies. Civilian casualties continue to be reported and escape routes are increasingly sealed off.

According to data collected by the UN Human Rights Office, at least 173 civilians have been killed by air and ground strikes since 1 June – although this is very likely a conservative estimate and the real death toll may be much higher. While some did manage to leave after paying large sums of money to smugglers, including smugglers affiliated with ISIL, reports continue to emerge of ISIL preventing civilians from fleeing. Those who attempt to flee also risk being killed by landmines or getting caught in the crossfire.

“The intense bombardment of Al-Raqqa over the past three weeks has reportedly left civilians terrified and confused about where they can seek refuge as they are caught between ISIL’s monstrosities and the fierce battle to defeat it,” High Commissioner Zeid said. “The large number of civilian casualties indicates that much more needs to be done by the parties to ensure protection of the civilian population.”

“Civilians must not be sacrificed for the sake of rapid military victories,” Zeid stressed.

The High Commissioner called on all forces battling ISIL in Al-Raqqa, including international forces, to review their operations to ensure full compliance with international law, including taking all feasible precautions to avoid loss of civilian lives. Where there are reports of civilian casualties, they must be promptly and effectively investigated.

Zeid called on parties to the conflict to put in place measures to allow civilians who wish to flee the fighting to do so in safety.

There are also worrying reports of violations and abuses by the armed group, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in areas under its control, such as Tabqa city, including looting, abductions, arbitrary detentions during screening processes as well as the recruitment of children.

ENDS

For more information and media requests, please contact Rupert Colville (+41 22 917 9767 / rcolville@ohchr.org) or Ravina Shamdasani (+41 22 917 9169 / rshamdasani@ohchr.org) or Liz Throssell (+41 22 917 9466 / ethrossell@ohchr.org)

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Syrie: Les civils pris au piège à Raqqa doivent absolument être protégés

GENÈVE (28 juin 2017) – Le Haut-Commissaire des Nations Unies aux droits de l’homme Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein a fait part ce mercredi de sa profonde inquiétude pour le sort des civils dans le contexte de l’offensive menée par les Forces démocratiques syriennes (FDS) pour reprendre la ville de Raqqa aux djihadistes. Près de 100 000 civils sont actuellement pris au piège dans la capitale de Daesh. Avec l’intensification des frappes aériennes et des combats au sol, le nombre de victimes civiles augmente et les voies de fuite se ferment les unes après les autres.

Selon des données recueillies par le Haut-Commissariat des Nations Unies aux droits de l’homme, au moins 173 civils – il s’agit ici d’une estimation prudente, et le nombre réel pourrait être bien plus élevé – ont été tués dans les combats depuis le 1er juin. Si certains sont parvenus à fuir après avoir payé des sommes importantes à des passeurs, y compris à des passeurs inféodés à Daesh, des informations continuent d’arriver, qui accusent les djihadistes d’empêcher les civils de fuir les combats. Ceux qui y arrivent risquent en outre d’être tués par des mines ou d’être pris dans les échanges de tirs.

«Les bombardements de ces trois dernières semaines sur Raqqa ont laissé les civils dans un état de terreur et de confusion quant aux possibilités de trouver refuge entre les atrocités commises par les soldats de Daesh et la lutte acharnée pour les défaire. Le grand nombre de victimes civiles montre que les parties en présence doivent en faire beaucoup plus pour assurer la protection de la population civile, » a déclaré le Haut-Commissaire Zeid.

«Les civils ne peuvent être sacrifiés sur l’autel des victoires militaires rapides.»

Le Haut-Commissaire a appelé toutes les forces, y compris les troupes soutenues par la coalition internationale, qui combattent les djihadistes à Raqqa à veiller à ce que leurs opérations soient pleinement conformes au droit international. Elles doivent prendre toutes les précautions nécessaires pour éviter les pertes civiles. Quand des rumeurs font état de victimes civiles, elles doivent faire l’objet d’une enquête rapide et efficace.

M. Zeid a également exhorté les parties au conflit à mettre en place des mesures qui permettent aux civils qui souhaitent fuir les combats de le faire en toute sécurité.

Les Forces démocratiques syriennes se seraient elles-mêmes rendues coupables de violations des droits de l’homme et d’abus de ces droits dans les zones qu’elles contrôlent, notamment dans la ville de Tabqa, et entre autres d’actes de pillage, d’enlèvements, de détentions arbitraires dans le cadre des opérations de filtrage, ainsi que de recrutement d’enfants.

FIN

Pour toute demande de la part des médias, prière de contacter Rupert Colville (+41 22 917 9767 / rcolville@ohchr.org ) ou Ravina Shamdasani (+41 22 917 91 69 / rshamdasani@ohchr.org) ou Liz Throssell (+41 22 91794 66 / ethrossell@ohchr.org)

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UN women’s rights committee to review Barbados, Costa Rica, Italy, Montenegro, Niger, Nigeria, Romania and Thailand

UN women’s rights committee to review Barbados, Costa Rica, Italy, Montenegro, Niger, Nigeria, Romania and Thailand

GENEVA (29 June 2017)  – The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is meeting in Geneva from 3 to 21July  to review women’s rights in the following countries: Barbados, Costa Rica, Italy, Montenegro, Niger, Nigeria, Romania and Thailand.

The above countries have ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and are reviewed regularly by CEDAW on how they are implementing the Convention. The Committee, which is composed of 23 international independent experts, will hold dialogues with delegations from the respective governments and will also be briefed by NGOs and national human rights institutions.

The Committee’s dialogues with the delegations will take place from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 17:00 at Palais des Nations – Room XVI and will be webcast at http://webtv.un.org/.

CEDAW’s findings, officially termed concluding observations, on the countries reviewed, will be published on 24 July here.

A news conference to discuss the findings is scheduled for 12.30 on 24 July at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. 

ENDS

For more information on the work of CEDAW please contact Jakob Schneider at jschneider@ohchr.org 

For media requests please contact:

Nicoleta Panta, +41(0) 22 9179310/npanta@ohchr.org

Media accreditation – click here.

Background

CEDAW is composed of 23 independent human rights experts drawn from around the world. They serve in their personal capacity and not as representatives of States parties. The Committee’s concluding observations are an independent assessment of States’ compliance with their human rights obligations under the treaty.

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NEWS RELEASE - EU needs greater focus on human rights impact of sanctions – UN expert

EU needs greater focus on human rights impact of sanctions – UN expert

BRUSSELS / GENEVA (23 June 2017) - The European Union has made progress in ensuring its sanctions allow for legal challenges and don’t harm human rights, but more work remains to be done, a UN rights expert has concluded after his first official visit to Brussels.

“If sanctions are ever to be used, they should only address direct security threats or internationally recognized human rights violations,” Special Rapporteur Idriss Jazairy said.

The expert said he had held “open and extensive” discussions with officials during his four-day visit, which was undertaken to assess the impact of EU sanctions on human rights, including the right to life and the right to development.

Mr. Jazairy praised EU institutions for making progress in ensuring that sanctions did not have a negative impact on human rights, and for allowing the targeted parties to seek judicial review. He also welcomed the consistent position of the EU not to claim and indeed to oppose extraterritorial enforcement of domestic legislation concerning unilateral sanctions.

“These steps, though they need to be further reinforced, are important commitments by the EU and its members to ensure that the States or individuals targeted by sanctions have the possibility of effective remedies,” said Mr. Jazairy.  

“EU sanctions offer a measure of due process for those being targeted, and even though this is still insufficient, it compares favourably to the legal remedies available in other blocs and States that impose sanctions.”

The Special Rapporteur highlighted a sanctions “stalemate” in the international community, with most countries agreeing that sanctions had to be adopted by the UN Security Council in order to be compatible with international law, while States that frequently use sanctions believe there are exceptions to this principle.

He said common ground could be found, suggesting a declaration on minimum standards of behaviour. It would be aimed at further mitigating the impact on human rights until the international community could agree on giving up on the “very blunt policy tool” of unilateral sanctions.  Mr. Jazairy said it was hoped that beyond that point, sanctions would only be enacted through the UN Security Council as provided for under the UN Charter.

The UN expert urged the EU to clarify the practical implications of its legal requirements and to make clear that humanitarian exemptions from sanctions should be mandatory.  He said these exemptions should become effective and be communicated to financial institutions and other stakeholders at the time of the enforcement of sanctions, so as to avoid a protection gap between the start of sanctions and decisions on humanitarian exceptions.

Mr. Jazairy also called on EU institutions to reiterate their endorsement of the principle identified by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, that “when an external party takes upon itself even partial responsibility for the situation within a country… it also unavoidably assumes a responsibility to do all within its powers to protect the economic, social and cultural rights of the affected population”. He stressed that this would be in line with the EU’s commitment to uphold human rights and international law.

During his visit, the Special Rapporteur met representatives of the European Commission, European Parliament and European External Action Service.  He will submit a report on his findings to the Human Rights Council in September 2018.

ENDS

Mr. Idriss Jazairy was appointed by the Human Rights Council as the first Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights. He took office in May 2015. Mr. Jazairy has extensive experience in the fields of international relations and human rights with the Algerian Foreign Ministry, the UN human rights system and international NGOs. He holds a M.A. (Oxford) in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, and an M.P.A. (Harvard). He also graduated from the École Nationale d’Administration (France). Mr. Jazairy is the author of books and of a large number of articles in the international press on development, human rights and current affairs.

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

For more information on the visit please see:

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=21790&LangID=E

For more information and media requests, please contact Stee Asbjornsen (+41 22 917 9827 / sasbjornsen@ohchr.org ) or write to ucm@ohchr.org

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OHCHR PRESS BRIEFING NOTES - (1) Yemen (2) Mosul mosque and minaret

Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Ravina Shamdasani

Location:      Geneva

Subject:        (1) Yemen

                (2) Mosul mosque and minaret

(1) Yemen

The UN Human Rights Office in Yemen continues to document reports of civilian casualties as a result of the conflict. Over the past month, we have been able to verify a total of 49 civilian deaths.

Between 21 May and 6 June, 19 civilians were killed in Taizz. Witnesses interviewed by the UN Human Rights Office said the victims were hit by shelling attacks by the Popular committees affiliated with the Houthis. Twelves shelling incidents reportedly hit 10 civilian neighbourhoods and two markets. Also on 21 May, seven civilians were killed reportedly as a result of mortar attacks from areas controlled by fighters affiliated with Popular Resistance Committees and Army Units loyal to President Hadi.

We have also documented the deaths of at least 23 civilians on 17 June as a result of an airstrike, helicopter attack and shelling on a house and nearby market area located just a few hundred metres from the Yemen-Saudi border in Shada District in Sa’ada Governorate.

According to information gathered by the UN Human Rights Office, the airstrike hit a house on the western side of the marketplace in the village of Moshnaq at about 12:30 pm on Saturday. Local people told our Yemen team that the house is used by Qat smugglers as a staging post where they wait for night-time when they cross into Saudi Arabia and that some 25 people were believed to be in the house at the time of the strike. Residents said those who survived the airstrike tried to flee the building but came under machinegun attack from helicopters that flew over the area some 10 minutes after the airstrike. Rescuers from neighbouring villages were unable to reach the market for an hour as shelling reportedly continued.

Interviewees told our Yemen team that there was no prior warning of the attack.

During the more than two years since the conflict in Yemen began, marketplaces have been struck a number of times, causing loss of civilian life.

We recall that indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks or attacks targeting civilian objects such as markets are prohibited under international humanitarian law. We remind all parties to the conflict of their obligation to ensure full respect for international human rights law and international humanitarian law. 

All incidents resulting in civilian casualties, including the attack on the house in Shada District, must be thoroughly investigated to ensure accountability when breaches of international law have been found to have taken place.

The outbreak of cholera has affected eight prisons and detention centres in six governorates. Some 50 prisoners have contracted cholera and there are 72 other suspected cases. In the best of circumstances, prisoners are among the most vulnerable members of society. In the Yemeni context, this is even more so. 

Since March 2015, the UN Human Rights Office has recorded a total of 13,504 civilian casualties, including 4,971 killed and 8,533 injured.

(2) Mosul mosque and minaret

We condemn the destruction of the al-Nuri Mosque and the Hadba Minaret in the Iraqi city of Mosul on Wednesday 21st  June.  Reports indicate that it was blown up deliberately by ISIL as Iraqi security forces were approaching.

This destruction is the latest in a long line of such horrendous acts by ISIL, which has targeted landmark religious sites, including churches, mosques, shrines, tombs and graves.

Such intentional destruction is an attack on the religious and cultural heritage of the Iraqi people – and the whole world.  International humanitarian law clearly prohibits such acts, and perpetrators who target these objects while being aware of their religious and historical character may be held accountable for war crimes, as in the groundbreaking Timbuktu case at the International Criminal Court.

ENDS

For more information and media requests, please contact Rupert Colville (+41 22 917 9767 / rcolville@ohchr.org) or Liz Throssell  ( +41 22 917 9466/ ethrossell@ohchr.org ) or Ravina Shamdasani (+41 22 917 9169 / rshamdasani@ohchr.org )

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NEWS RELEASE - Business and human rights: States’ duties don’t end at the national borders

Business and human rights: States’ duties don’t end at the national borders

GENEVA (23 June 2017) – States should control corporations across national borders to protect communities from the negative impacts of their activities, UN human rights experts have said in an authoritative new guidance * on the Obligations of States parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) in the context of business activities.

“States should regulate corporations that are domiciled in their territory and/or jurisdiction. This refers to corporations which have their statutory seat, central administration or principal place of business on their national territory,” the experts of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural rights say in the guidance*, officially termed the General Comment, published today.

In practice, the Committee expects home States of transnational corporations to establish appropriate remedies, guaranteeing effective access to justice for victims of business-related human rights abuses when more than one country is involved.

In light of the practices revealed by the Panama Papers and the Bahamas Leaks, the General Comment emphasizes that States should ensure corporate strategies do not undermine their efforts to fully realize the rights set out in the Covenant.

"To combat abusive tax practices by transnational corporations, States should combat transfer pricing practices and deepen international tax cooperation,” the guidance states.

“Lowering the rates of corporate taxes with a sole view to attracting investors encourages a race to the bottom that ultimately undermines the ability of all States to mobilize resources domestically to realize Covenant rights.”

"This practice is inconsistent with the duties of the States parties to the Covenant. Providing excessive protection to bank secrecy and permissive rules on corporate tax may affect the ability of States where economic activities are taking place to mobilize the maximum available resources for the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights.”

The new General Comment sets out what States can and must do in order to ensure that companies do not violate rights such as the right to food, housing, health or work, which the States themselves are bound to respect.

“If States take seriously their duties to ensure businesses comply with economic, social and cultural rights, markets can gradually contribute to the aims of the Covenant. They will be more sustainable and move societies in the right direction. Communities will also be better protected from the negative impacts of corporate activities where they have had the most damaging consequences, such as in the extractive industry,” said Virginia Bràs Gomes, Chairperson of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural rights.

The Co-Rapporteur of the General Comment, Olivier de Schutter, emphasized: “Businesses cannot ignore that the expectations of society are changing. The first ones to change shall be rewarded by consumers, whose purchasing choices are increasingly driven by immaterial aspects — the reputation of the company, and the ethical and sustainability dimensions associated with its products.”

The experts highlighted that the issue of business and human rights had been addressed recently in different forums, including the Human Rights Council and the International Labour Conference, and through a combination of tools — regulations, self-imposed codes of conduct, economic incentives and action plans.

“These initiatives show how the field is fast-growing, and this is welcome. It entails the risk, however, that States lose sight of what is obligatory, as opposed to what is simply recommended as a good practice,” added Zdzislaw Kedzia, the Vice-Chair of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural rights. 

“It also may be tempting for States to seek refuge behind the initiatives taken by the corporate sector, rather than adopting the appropriate regulatory and policy initiatives that they must adopt. Our General Comment seeks to recall their obligations under the Covenant and define the role they must assume in regulating corporate conduct.”

ENDS

For media requests please contact:

Nicoleta Panta, +41(0) 22 9179310/npanta@ohchr.org

Background

* The General Comment provides guidance for the 165 States parties to the Covenant and defines their duties based on the experience gained by the Committee in the examination of State reports since 30 years. 

The adoption of the General Comment followed a widespread consultation with States, academic research institutes and civil society organisations, as well as international organisations such as the Council of Europe and the International Labour Organisation.

Read the General Comment here.

Members of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights are independent human rights experts drawn from around the world, who serve in their personal capacity and not as representatives of States parties. The Committee’s concluding observations are an independent assessment of States’ compliance with their human rights obligations under the treaty. More information:  

http://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/cescr/pages/cescrindex.aspx

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MEDIA STATEMENT - DRC: Harrowing violence, mutiliation, killing and destruction of entire villages in the Kasais - UN Human Rights Chief Zeid

French version will be made available on www.ohchr.org

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein tells the UN Human Rights Council of new, harrowing reports of killings, mutilation - including of children as young as two - in Kasai, Kasai Central and Kasai Oriental regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He urges the Council to establish an independent international investigation into the widespread human rights violations and abuses in the Kasais.

Geneva, 20 June 2017

Excellencies,

Just three months ago, my Office reported to this Council serious concerns about the human rights violations and abuses committed by the Congolese army and police, and the Kamuina Nsapu militia, in Kasai, Kasai Central and Kasai Oriental. Subsequently, when the two UN experts were killed, the Minister for Human Rights of the Democratic Republic of the Congo called for a joint investigation to bring the perpetrators of human rights violations and abuses to justice.

Since then the humanitarian and human rights situation has deteriorated dramatically and various actors are fuelling ethnic hatred, resulting in extremely grave, widespread and apparently planned attacks against the civilian population in the Kasais. Last week, given the gravity of the allegations received and restricted access to parts of the greater Kasai area, and in line with my statement to this Council on 6 June, I deployed a team of OHCHR investigators to interview recent refugees from the Kasais.

Their reports are harrowing, and indicate the situation in the Kasais has not only escalated but has also become much more complex.

I am appalled by the creation and arming of a militia, the Bana Mura – allegedly to support the authorities in fighting the Kamuina Nsapu, but which has carried out horrific attacks against civilians from the Luba and Lulua ethnic groups. Refugees from multiple villages in the Kamonya territory indicated that the Bana Mura have in the past two months shot dead, hacked or burned to death, and mutilated, hundreds of villagers, as well as destroying entire villages. My team saw children as young as two whose limbs had been chopped off; many babies had machete wounds and severe burns. One two-month-old baby seen by my team had been hit by two bullets four hours after birth; the mother was also wounded. At least two pregnant women were sliced open and their foetuses mutilated.

In the village of Cinq, dozens of men, women and children of the Luba and Lulua communities were reportedly killed with firearms or machetes, or burnt to death, on 24 April. Hundreds of  assailants also allegedly attacked the main health centre in the village and killed some 90 patients, medical personnel and others. The Bana Mura militia in Cinq was reportedly organised by a well-known local leader, who provided machetes, hunting rifles and fuel. Similar attacks appear to have occurred in more than 20 villages in Kamonya over the past two months, and numerous victims and witnesses said the militia is organised and armed by local authorities.

Victims also reported that members of local units of the Congolese army and police, as well as some traditional chiefs, have accompanied some Bana Mura attacks, and said some State agents are involved in arming and directing the militia.

Excellencies,

Serious human rights violations by members of the security forces themselves -- including summary executions and rape – have been reported during several operations against villages allegedly controlled by the Kamuina Nsapu militia.

In recent months my Office has reported serious abuses committed by the Kamuina Nsapu militia. This has been further documented by my staff and other very credible sources. In several villages in Kamonya, Kamuina Nsapu has allegedly carried out targeted killings, including members of the armed forces, police, public officials and civilians perceived to cooperate with them, as well as alleged sorcerers. Witnesses indicated that the Kamuina Nsapu militia comprises many children, some as young as seven, many of them under the influence of drugs.

Some 1.3 million internally displaced people have fled this landscape of horror. I condemn, unreservedly, the multiple violations they have experienced, and deplore the lack of international attention to their situation. Over 30,000 refugees have been registered in Angola, and hundreds of refugees are currently arriving every week, indicating that atrocities have not abated. I take this opportunity to thank the authorities for their assistance, in particular, Angolan doctors and nurses who have worked many long hours to save gravely injured people from death.

Forty-two mass graves have been documented by the Joint Human Rights Office in the Kasais. There may be more. Several refugees have told my staff they were forced to bury victims in additional mass graves. We believe these grave sites were being investigated by the UN experts killed in March 2017. Their killings must also be fully investigated, and I remain in close touch with their families.

Excellencies,

It is the duty of the Congolese authorities, army and police to protect the people, to act in accordance with human rights principles and to bring perpetrators of human rights violations and abuses to justice. Accountability for these shocking incidents must be assured. I regret that to date the Congolese Government has not fulfilled these obligations of protection and accountability. Although my Office has shared information and offered support to investigations in line with the Government’s call for a joint investigation, the authorities then sought to limit the UN and AU to a supporting role. As a result, progress has clearly been insufficient in view of the massive scale and horrific nature of the crimes that have taken place and, sadly, continue.

In other parts of the country, there has been some progress towards bringing a number of perpetrators to account. However, that political will has not been manifest in the Kasais. Moreover, not one person has been held accountable for the killings of dozens of people during demonstrations in Kinshasa and across the country last September and December. The DRC cannot be permitted to become a free-fire zone, where members of the security forces, armed groups and militias can kill with impunity. May I recall that last year, of more than 5,190 human rights violations and abuses recorded, 64% were committed by the Congolese army and police. Several FARDC officers active in the Kasais were suspected of involvement in previous massacres committed in eastern DRC from 1998 to 2013.

I urge this Council to deploy an independent international investigation on the human rights situation in the Kasais, in cooperation with the authorities, my Office and other parts of the UN system. I will also remain in touch with the International Criminal Court. This international investigation can establish the facts and determine individual responsibilities.

This will also send a strong signal about the need to uphold human rights in the rest of the country, where lack of progress in implementing the 31 December Agreement, and continued restrictions on political rights and freedoms, are generating frustration and deepening grievances. By bringing justice to the Kasais we may be able to prevent further crimes elsewhere in the DRC.

I take this occasion to repeat the full availability of my Office to assist the Government and my utmost support to the people of the DRC, especially victims of human rights violations and abuses.

Thank you.

ENDS

The High Commissioner delivered this statement at an Interactive dialogue on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 35th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Audio recordings and video footage of the speech are available upon request.

For more information and media requests, please contact Rupert Colville (+41 22 917 9767 / rcolville@ohchr.org) or Ravina Shamdasani (+41 22 917 9169 / rshamdasani@ohchr.org) or Liz Throssell (+41 22 917 9466 / ethrossell@ohchr.org)

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