11 06 14 HRW – DR Congo: Summit Should Support Justice for Rape Victims

Tens
of thousands of women, girls, men, and boys in eastern Congo have been victims
of sexual violence over the past two decades. This widespread sexual violence
will not end until those responsible are prosecuted, and the government makes
clear to soldiers, officers, combatants, and warlords that rape carries a high
price.

 

Ida
Sawyer, senior Congo researcher.

(London)
– The Democratic Republic of Congo and
other governments attending the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict
should make concrete commitments to justice for Congolese victims, Human Rights
Watch said in a report released today. The Global Summit is being held in London from June 10 to 13, 2014.

The 24-page
report, “Ending Impunity for Sexual Violence: New
Judicial Mechanism Needed to Bring Perpetrators to
Justice,” describes
some of the worst cases of mass rape and other forms of sexual violence
committed in recent years by the Congolese army and non-state armed groups in
Congo, and the inadequate efforts to hold those responsible to
account.

“Tens of thousands of women, girls, men, and boys in eastern
Congo have been victims of sexual violence over the past two decades,”
said Ida Sawyer,
senior Congo researcher at Human Rights Watch. “This widespread sexual violence
will not end until those responsible are prosecuted, and the government makes
clear to soldiers, officers, combatants, and warlords that rape carries a high
price.”

Armed groups have abducted and held women and girls as sex
slaves, attacked the victims with machetes and other weapons, and targeted girls
as young as two and women older than 80. Many victims developed serious medical
complications, and some died from their wounds. Armed groups and members of the
army have also used rape to “punish” civilians belonging to a particular ethnic
group, or those they accused of supporting the “enemy.”

Stigma and fear
of rejection have prevented many women and girls from reporting rape. Others
live in remote areas with no psychosocial or medical services. Many have been
threatened by the attackers or members of their armed group or army unit,
deterring victims from seeking justice.

In recent years, Congolese
authorities have carried out an increasing number of arrests and prosecutions
for rape, but the vast majority of rapes go unpunished, Human Rights Watch said.
The United Nations Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) in Congo recorded 187
convictions by military courts for sexual violence between July 2011 and
December 2013. Four of those convicted were members of armed groups; the others
were soldiers, police, or other state agents. Of the 136 soldiers convicted,
only three were senior officers, all lieutenant colonels.

A government
proposal to establish specialized mixed chambers for the most serious crimes,
including crimes of sexual violence, could strengthen accountability and
deserves international support, Human Rights Watch said. The chambers would be
located within Congo’s national judicial system with the participation of
international judges and other personnel for a limited period. They would have
the mandate to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide
committed in Congo since 1993.

“The many victims of sexual violence
crimes committed during Congo’s conflicts deserve to see justice done,” Sawyer
said. “Countries at the Global Summit should support a new judicial mechanism in
Congo to bring those involved in these egregious crimes to justice, including
the commanders who are ultimately responsible for these
atrocities.”