There were huge responses to the DRC human rights crisis, caused by the various human rights abuses that have been committed. Some of the greatest concerns that other countries around the world witnessed were the recruitment of child soldiers, sexual violence, and the murder of civilians (ICRtoP).
Additionally, the violence in the Congo caused instability to spread across states in the region such as Rwanda and Uganda, causing even more conflict.
Multiple organizations and councils stepped up and raised awareness of the situation by writing reports that assessed the DRC’s progress for human rights. The Human Rights Council (HRC) wrote a report in 2012 referencing the Resolution 19/27. This resolution encouraged the establishment of national human rights commission in DRC. The report asked the Commissioner for Human Rights to submit a report in 2013 regarding the Office’s work in the country. Additionally, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) released a 566 page report on the DRC titled: “DRC: Mapping Human Rights Violations 1993-2003.” They also wrote another report (“Remedies and Reparations for Victims of Sexual Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC]”) which highlighted how victims of sexual violence are often responsible for bearing the cost of the harm done to them. The report called on the Congolese government to implement reparations for the victims of sexual abuse. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) passed the Resolution 1493 on July 28th, 2003. This was the first series of DRC sanctions resolutions.
In January 2013, the UN initiated an arms embargo on both the M23 and FDLR rebels along with a travel ban. Additionally, the UN froze assets on two leaders: Jean-marie Runiga Lugerero and Lieutenant Colonel Eric Badege. After the arms embargo was implemented, UN Group of Experts found that Rwanda and Uganda have continued to support the M23 and FDLR rebels in the fight against the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC). They had violated the embargo in multiple ways: they provided the M23 with weapons, ammunition, intelligence, and political advice (along with deploying army troops to fight alongside the rebels). After multiple warnings, The United States of America, European Union, and Britain cut off all military aid to Rwanda in October, 2013.
The most important contribution that the international community (more specifically, the UNSC) made towards the DRC crisis was the authorization of two missions in the country. The first one was the United Nations Organization Mission in the DRC (MONUC). This mission aimed to better protect civilians and address issues raised during the MONUC period. Unfortunately, this mission fell short because it could not uphold its mandate to protect the civilians in DRC. This was highlighted when they were unable to prevent the M23 seizure of Goma in November, 2012. The second was the Force Intervention Brigade (FIB), which was created in March, 2013. This intervention brigade allows the UNSC to use anything (for example, offensive tactics) against the M23 and other rebel groups in order to enforce civilian protection, and neutralization of armed groups.
Additionally, the violence in the Congo caused instability to spread across states in the region such as Rwanda and Uganda, causing even more conflict.
Multiple organizations and councils stepped up and raised awareness of the situation by writing reports that assessed the DRC’s progress for human rights. The Human Rights Council (HRC) wrote a report in 2012 referencing the Resolution 19/27. This resolution encouraged the establishment of national human rights commission in DRC. The report asked the Commissioner for Human Rights to submit a report in 2013 regarding the Office’s work in the country. Additionally, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) released a 566 page report on the DRC titled: “DRC: Mapping Human Rights Violations 1993-2003.” They also wrote another report (“Remedies and Reparations for Victims of Sexual Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC]”) which highlighted how victims of sexual violence are often responsible for bearing the cost of the harm done to them. The report called on the Congolese government to implement reparations for the victims of sexual abuse. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) passed the Resolution 1493 on July 28th, 2003. This was the first series of DRC sanctions resolutions.
In January 2013, the UN initiated an arms embargo on both the M23 and FDLR rebels along with a travel ban. Additionally, the UN froze assets on two leaders: Jean-marie Runiga Lugerero and Lieutenant Colonel Eric Badege. After the arms embargo was implemented, UN Group of Experts found that Rwanda and Uganda have continued to support the M23 and FDLR rebels in the fight against the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC). They had violated the embargo in multiple ways: they provided the M23 with weapons, ammunition, intelligence, and political advice (along with deploying army troops to fight alongside the rebels). After multiple warnings, The United States of America, European Union, and Britain cut off all military aid to Rwanda in October, 2013.
The most important contribution that the international community (more specifically, the UNSC) made towards the DRC crisis was the authorization of two missions in the country. The first one was the United Nations Organization Mission in the DRC (MONUC). This mission aimed to better protect civilians and address issues raised during the MONUC period. Unfortunately, this mission fell short because it could not uphold its mandate to protect the civilians in DRC. This was highlighted when they were unable to prevent the M23 seizure of Goma in November, 2012. The second was the Force Intervention Brigade (FIB), which was created in March, 2013. This intervention brigade allows the UNSC to use anything (for example, offensive tactics) against the M23 and other rebel groups in order to enforce civilian protection, and neutralization of armed groups.