10/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/08/2024 03:35
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
57th session
Enhanced Interactive Dialogue Democratic Republic of the Congo
8 October
EU statement
Mr. President,
The EU wishes to thank the High Commissioner and the Team of International Experts for their presentations. We reiterate our support for their mandate.
We would also like to thank the Congolese authorities for their continued engagement and collaboration with the Team of Experts.
The DRC continues to face major challenges: both the security and the humanitarian situation have deteriorated in the reporting period. Violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law continue to be committed. These include gender-based violence, sexual exploitation and abuse of women and girls, attacks on IDP camps and the recruitment of children by armed groups. Some steps have been taken, but we urge the Congolese government to intensify efforts to ensure accountability for these crimes, including by focusing on the national transitional justice process.
The EU remains deeply concerned about the deterioration of the humanitarian situation, with the number of IDPs increasing, children facing inhumane living conditions, malnutrition, lack of access to drinking water and education and very high levels of gender-based violence
Moreover, tensions are increasing in the whole Great Lakes region. We commend the work of Angola's presidency as mediator for long-term peace in the region and reaffirm our support for the Luanda process.
Lastly, we deeply regret that the government lifted the moratorium on the death penalty, in place since 2001. We urge the DRC to refrain from using the death penalty and move back to a moratorium as swiftly as possible.
Experts, could you give us an update on ongoing reparations projects, including FONAREV and FRIVAO?
Thank you.