Roger Meece welcomes verdict in Baraka trial

Kinshasa, 22 February 2011- The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), Roger Meece, today welcomed the guilty verdict by the military tribunal sitting in a mobile open air court in Baraka, and condemning those responsible for acts of rape and other gross human rights abuses perpetrated in Fizi in the night of 1st to 2nd January 2011.

The Special Representative seized this opportunity to welcome the action of the civilian and military authorities, as well as the diligence they have demonstrated in this case, and encourages them to persevere on this path.

"The fight against acts of rape, sexual violence and all other forms of human rights violations and attack on the physical integrity of persons requires the strict enforcement of the law and the end of impunity", Mr. Meece said. "This is how we perceive the Baraka trial, and the authorities can always count on our support in their efforts to address those issues," the head of MONUSCO added.

Press Releases 2011