Situation in Democratic Republic of Congo

Isabelle Durant, Judith Sargentini, Barbara Lochbihler, Bart Staes, Raül Romeva i Rueda, Jean Lambert

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966),

– having regard to the UN Security Council decision to extend until 30 June 2013 the mandate of the UN Stabilisation Mission in DRC (MONUSCO), under its Resolution 2053(2012,

– having regard to its previous resolutions,

– having regard to Rule 122 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. Whereas a new wave of heavy fighting resumed between M23 and DRC armed forces since last July, has caused deaths, injuries and damage among the civilian population in the eastern provinces

B. Whereas die to the recurrent armed conflict, the Kivu region has suffered from atrocities, characterised by human rights violations and war crimes, such as mass rapes, including rapes of minor girls, torture and massacres of civilians and the general enrolment of child soldiers;

C. Recalling that the M23 rebels who were integrated into the army following a 2000 peace agreement mutinied in April 2012 and M23 constitute one of the dozen armed groups fighting in this resource-rich region,

D. Whereas failure of bringing to justice those responsible for human rights violation has resulted in encouraging the climate of impunity and the commitment of new crime,

E. Whereas as part of an effort to address the underlying causes of violence in the region, the Government of DRC along with 10 other countries and four regional and international institutions adopted a framework to consolidate peace in the country;

F. Whereas DRC possesses an abundance of natural resources and whereas the persistent illegal exploitation of these resources, particularly in the east of DRC, which moreover are often under the control of armed paramilitary groups, helps to finance and perpetuate the conflict and remains a source of insecurity for the region as a whole;

1. Condemns the recent violence in eastern DRC, which provokes violation of human rights, insecurity, destruction of infrastructure, looting of homes and property,

2. Condemns rebels targeted attacks against civilians and UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the country (MONUSCO), which have killed several people, including a Tanzanian peacekeeper, and injured several others.

3. Deplores once again the massacres, crimes against humanity and acts of sexual violence against women and girls, which continue in the eastern provinces, calls on all relevant authorities to take immediate action to bring the perpetrators to justice,

4.  Calls on Great Lakes countries to commit themselves to jointly promote peace, stability and security to enhance regional economic development, paying special attention to reconciliation, respect for human rights, fight against impunity, establishment of impartial judiciary system and better government accountability,

5. Calls on the Congolese authorities to conduct an impartial and thorough investigation and bring to justices those responsible for human right violations in conformity with Congolese and international law,

6. Calls on the Congolese authorities to rehabilitate and reform of the judicial system, the army, and the prison; also calls to provide adequate training and put at their disposal the necessary human and financial resources to combat impunity,

7. Considers it vital to conduct an impartial, in-depth investigation into all past and present cases of human rights violations; urges that the perpetrators of human rights violations, war crimes, crimes against humanity, sexual violence against women and the conscription of child soldiers be reported, identified, prosecuted and punished in accordance with national and international criminal law;

8. Considers that transparent access and control over the natural resources of DRC and equitable redistribution resources are indispensable for the sustainable development of the country ; calls, therefore, on the African Union and the countries of the Great Lakes region to take more measures to combat illicit exploitation of and trading in natural resources, and on the European Union and the whole of the international community to step up cooperation with DRC in this field;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the institutions of the African Union, the United Nations Secretary-General, the UN Special Representative on sexual violence in armed conflicts,