Kinshasa, 19 October 2013: MONUSCO deplores the lack of progress in prosecuting the perpetrators of gross violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, including mass rape, committed in November 2012 in Minova, Kalehe territory, South Kivu province, and in neighboring villages by troops of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC).

Almost a year after these incidents, none of the presumed perpetrators of these human rights violations has been brought to justice despite the support lent by MONUSCO and other partners to the investigations conducted by military justice and in spite of the Congolese authorities’ commitment to prosecute the perpetrators.

“Congolese officials should fulfill their obligations in compliance with international as well as Congolese law, especially towards the victims of such atrocious acts and their families to whom justice must be rendered.” said Martin Kobler, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Note to editors:

On 8 May 2013, MONUSCO jointly with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights published a report on the above incidents, denouncing 135 cases of sexual violence as well as other serious human rights violations including murders and large-scale lootings, perpetrated by FARDC soldiers in the city of Minova and its surroundings. The report further highlighted gross violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, including at least 59 cases of sexual violence, committed by M23 combatants in Goma and surrounding areas during the same period.