Kivu (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Tabled by Marie-Hélène Aubert, Margrete Auken, Raül Romeva i Rueda, Jean Lambert

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its resolution of 17 January 2008 on the situation in the democratic Republic of Congo and rape as war crime and to its previous resolutions on human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo,

– having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the renewed fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has once again caused an immense suffering for the civilian population and particularly for women and girls,

B. whereas since August 2008, fighting has resumed between the Congolese and the rebel group led by Laurent Nkunda, breaking a fragile ceasefire put in place in the Gama peace agreement,

C. whereas the Congolese Government and 22 armed groups signed the Goma peace agreement, committing to an immediate ceasefire and observance of international human rights law,

D. recalling that an agreement, known as the Nairobi communiqué, was reached in November 2007 between the Governments of Congo and Rwanda to address the presence of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR),

E. whereas the resent fighting has resulted in many civilian injuries, killings, abducting and recruiting children into army and raping women and girls,

F. whereas Congolese army soldiers are also involved in killing civilians and looting property, 

G. whereas Congolese army soldiers and armed groups are also involved in illicit mining activities in Kivu as well as in health centres and humanitarian aid delivery trucks, 

H. whereas it is vital to find a political solution to the ongoing crisis in eastern Congo in order to provide effective protection for the civilian population and ensure respect for their basic rights,

1. Expresses its deep concern at the recent fighting which causes an immense suffering of civilian population including rape, indiscriminate killings, looting and illicit mining activities;

2.Calls upon all parties to uphold their commitments to protect the civilian population and respect for human rights as outlined in the Goma peace agreement and the Nairobi Communiqué;

3. Considers that the root causes of the conflict in eastern Congo are the presence of foreign armed groups, control over mineral and agricultural resources and the culture of impunity for human rights abuses;

4. Considers that, in order to protect the civilian population, the MONUC mandate should be assessed and reviewed if necessary;

5. Reiterates its demand that the perpetrators of sexual violence against women be reported, identified, prosecuted and punished in accordance with national and international criminal law;

6. Renews its calls on the EU and the UN to formally recognise rape, forced impregnation, sexual slavery and any other forms of sexual violence as crimes against humanity and war crimes, including as a form of torture and a grave war crime, whether they occur in a systematic or non-methodical manner;

7. Reiterates its demand for the effective establishment of monitoring mechanisms, such as the Kimbereley process for the certification of the origin of natural resources imported into the EU market;

8. Notes with concern that elements from Ugandan rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) have recently conducted attacks on 16 localities in Eastern DRC;

9. Calls on the EU to do its most to provide humanitarian assistance for the population of Eastern Congo;

10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the African Union, the government of the DRC and all governments and parliaments of the Great Lake region.