Author: Anonymous
Women and children from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in a refugee site in Burundi.
A UN independent expert said on Wednesday that she was extremely concerned about the safety of human rights defenders in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where they face risks of reprisals in connection with their work.
“They need immediate assistance, including support for temporary relocation with their families,” stressed the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, in a press release.
According to her, as the M23 continues its advance in the east of the country, those who document and denounce the violations perpetrated by the armed group are directly targeted and now live in fear. Since the end of January, the rebels, supported by Rwandan forces, have taken control of Goma and Bukavu, the two main cities of North and South Kivu, two provinces rich in mineral resources where the fighting has left thousands dead and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
“Recently, a defender informed me that the M23 rebels had drawn up lists of human rights defenders to arrest in areas under their control,” Ms. Lawlor said.
Suspected cases of torture and enforced disappearances
She also said she had received credible reports of human rights defenders being held incommunicado, kidnapped and tortured in Rutshuru and Masisi, North Kivu.
Meanwhile, at least six human rights defenders have gone missing after attempting to flee Goma, following the M23’s capture of the city in late January.
Those who manage to escape have no means of shelter or daily needs. The rest are constantly on the run from the rebels.
“One defender asked me how he could continue to hide while the M23 was starting to conduct a census in Goma,” she added.
Families fleeing IDP camps around Goma.
Risks from prison escapees
In addition to the threat from the M23, there is also the threat posed by prison escapees in Goma, as well as in neighbouring South Kivu, where thousands of detainees, including violent criminals and leaders of armed groups convicted of serious violations amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity, are now roaming the streets.
The Special Rapporteur reported that some of them are threatening human rights defenders who have provided medical, psychosocial and legal assistance to victims and witnesses during their trials.
While human rights defenders are threatened and fear reprisals, victims have no one to turn to, particularly women, who are at risk of sexual violence.
“We know that conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence in eastern DRC is endemic and that women who take a stand against human rights violations in such contexts, and who become visible through their work, often bear the brunt,” Ms. Lawlor noted.
Heightened fear in rural areas
The Special Rapporteur also drew attention to the risks faced by human rights defenders in remote rural areas.
“Defenders were already under threat in the region – both from the government and from armed groups – but as one woman human rights defender described in an interview with me, there is now no respite, there is constant insecurity and there is no protection,” she said.
For the UN, Nearly 900 rapes were reported during the first half of February in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) warned on Tuesday, while calling on neighboring states to protect those fleeing the Congolese conflict.
“The security and humanitarian situation in the DRC continues to deteriorate,” said UNHCR Deputy Director of International Protection, Patrick Eba, during a press briefing in Geneva.
“During the first two weeks of February, 895 rapes, an average of 60 per day, were reported and transmitted to humanitarian actors for assistance,” he stressed, noting that in addition to this sexual violence, looting and destruction of homes continue to occur.
Given the widespread insecurity in the two provinces of North and South Kivu, where the M23 rebels, supported by the Rwandan army, have been making inroads since the beginning of the year, many other people could be forced to cross the borders to find protection and assistance. At least 130 patients kidnapped by M23
For its part, the UN Human Rights Office said it was “gravely concerned” for the well-being and safety of “at least” 130 sick and wounded people kidnapped over the weekend by M23 fighters from two hospitals in Goma.
In a statement released Monday in Geneva, the agency said that the M23 seized 116 patients from the CBCA hospital and 15 others from the Heal Africa hospital.
The services of the head of the Human Rights Office, Volker Türk, called on the M23 to “take rapid and concrete measures to ensure an end to these arbitrary and abusive raids”.
Under international humanitarian law, the statement recalls that “the wounded and sick must be able to receive the medical care and attention they need”, and that hospitals “must be respected and protected in all circumstances”
Increase in violence against civilians
In addition, the Humanitarian Coordinator in the DRC, Bruno Lemarquis, expressed concern on Monday, March 3, 2025, about the increase in targeted acts of violence against civilians, medical and educational infrastructure, and humanitarian personnel in the provinces of North and South Kivu.
In addition to the attacks on hospitals in Goma on February 27, explosions during a public meeting in Bukavu, the main city of South Kivu, left at least 13 civilians dead and dozens injured.
According to Mr. Lemarquis, several reports also indicate a worrying increase in cases of kidnappings of civilians, including around schools and health facilities.
“We call on all parties to protect civilians and respect their obligations under international humanitarian law,” said the Humanitarian Coordinator.
“We reiterate that any attack targeting these essential structures is a serious violation of international humanitarian law and must cease immediately,” he added.
Author: Anonymous
Source : UN (https://news.un.org/fr/story/2025/03/1153636)
Contact : renafsudkivu@gmail.com
How to Help Refugee Children Globally
