MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo
10.9.2013 - (2013/2822(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure
Véronique De Keyser, Ricardo Cortés Lastra, Ana Gomes, Liisa Jaakonsaari, Norbert Neuser, Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg, Joanna Senyszyn, Mitro Repo, Mojca Kleva Kekuš, Antigoni Papadopoulou on behalf of the S&D Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0390/2013
B7‑0398/2013
European Parliament resolution on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The European Parliament,
- having regard to its previous resolutions
- having regard to the Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the situation in North Kivu of 30 August 2013; of 10 July and 7 June 2012
- having regard to the ACP-EU JPA resolution on the situation of instability and insecurity
in the Great Lakes Region and, in particular, in the Eastern Democratic Republic of
Congo, adopted at it meeting in Paramaribo (Suriname) from 27-29 November 2012,
- having regard to the Council conclusions of Council conclusions on the Great Lakes Region, 22 July 2013 , and of 10 December, 19 November and 25 June 2012 on the situation in Eastern DRC;
- having regard to UN Security Council Resolutions 2053 (27 June 2012) on the situation
in the DRC, 1925 (2010), 1856 (2008) which specifies the mandate of the UN mission
in the DRC (MONUSCO) and Resolution 2098 (2013) which renewed MONUSCO’s
mandate
- having regard to the Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 28 June 2013
- having regard to the Statement by the President of the UN Security Council on the situation on Great Lakes region, 25 July 2013
- having regard to the the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU) decision on the situation in the Great Lakes region, particularly in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at its 393rd meeting held on 28 August 2013
- having regard to the declaration of the Heads of State and governments of the Member
States of the ICGRL on the security situation in DRC, 6 August 2013
- having regard to the Cotonou Partnership Agreement signed in June 2000
- having regard to Article 3 and Protocol II to the Geneva Convention of 1949, which prohibit summary executions, rape, enforced recruitment and other atrocities,
- having regard to the International Convention on the Rights of the Child of 20 November 1989, which, in particular, prohibits the involvement of children in armed conflicts
- having regard to the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
- having regard to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, which was ratified by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 1982
A. whereas the violence in the Goma region and on the border with Rwanda is escalating with the resumption of hostilities between the M23 and the Government Troops which has resulted to loss of thousands of lives, innumerous injures including attacks on civilians and United Nations peacekeepers; whereas the humanitarian situation remains critical
B. whereas abuses of power and violence, including looting, sexual and gender based violence (SGBV), abductions, and forced recruitment of children by armed groups and the Congolese army continue to take place which continues to be a surge that undermines efforts of the UN Security Council and regional bodies to put an end to the conflict
C. whereas national authorities and the international community have largely invested in strengthening the judicial system, especially on the military side, and on encouraging the opening of inquiries and prosecutions on sexual violence; whereas trials have been held but there is lack of execution of the judgments and in many case those found guilty are able to escape and little is done to compensate the victims.
D. whereas more than 2,7 million people are displaced within the country, including over one million displaced in 2012 alone; whereas 6.4 million are in need of food and emergency aid
E. whereas on the 28 March 2013, the Security Council decided by resolution 2098 that MONUSCO shall, for an initial period of one year include an “Intervention Brigade”
F. whereas since the mandate of the independent expert was discontinued in 2008, there is no longer a UN monitoring mechanism with which to regularly observe the situation in DRC
G. whereas the U.N. Group of Experts has published evidence linking Rwanda to the rebels, and the United States has called on Kigali to end its support; whereas Rwanda has repeatedly denied any ties to M23
H. whereas the Heads of State and Government of the International Conference on the Great Lakes region met on 5th September 2013, at its 7th Extraordinary Summit on security situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in Kampala, Uganda
I. whereas in 2012 the member states of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) have launched a joint verification mechanism (JVM), aimed at monitoring troop movements in eastern DRC and the deployment of the envisaged Neutral International Force
J. whereas there has not been in the recent months progress concerning the draft Law on the protection of Human Rights Defenders and repression of human rights activists and journalists in the DRC has increased and they are being arbitrarily arrested and intimidated; whereas no steps have been taken to bring those responsible to justice
K. whereas on 7 August 7 2013, in the village of Kawakolo in Pweto Territory, Katanga Province, Mr. Godfrey Mutombo, a member of the non-governmental organization Libertas, was brutally murdered by members of rebel groups that spread terror in some villages in the north of the province since 2011.
L. whereas After the appeal trial before the Supreme Military court concerning the murder in June 2010 of Mr. Floribert Chebeya, executive director of the Voice of the Voiceless (VSV) and member of the General Assembly of the OMCT and Mr. Fidèle Bazana member of the VSV, has resumed 9 April 2013, defense lawyers Mr. Peter Ngomo Milambo, Mr. Emmanuel and Mr. Ilunga Kabengele Regine Sesepe have received threats.
M. whereas increased unemployment, the social downturn and impoverishment of the
population are also determining factors in undermining security and political
stability in the country
N. whereas the issue of illegal exploitation of the country’s natural resources some
of which find their way to other countries is one of the factors in fuelling and
exacerbating the conflict in DRC
1. Strongly condemns the resumption of hostilities by the M23 and expresses its deep concern on the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in the Eastern DRC which poses a serious threat to peace, security and stability in the DRC and in the whole region which is anyway fragile and volatile
2. Calls for immediate cease of all forms of violence on civilian population, peacekeepers and humanitarian workers, demands an immediate end of all human rights abuses including the very concerning widespread sexual and gender-based violence (resolution 1820 of the UN Security Council) , and the unfortunate recruitment and use of children by armed forces; calls with emphasis on all relevant authorities to take immediate action to bring the perpetrators to justice;
3. Urges on all concerned parties to respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty, and to search for a political solution in full accordance with the national and regional commitments contained in the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region.
4. Urges the government of DRC to continue its efforts for a comprehensive reform of the security system and to ensure the stability of the rule of law, to put in place effective administration throughout the eastern DRC and to take measures to ensure the full protection of civilians
5. Strongly condemns all forms of external support to the M23 and other negative forces in the DRC and demands the immediate and permanent cessation of such support;
6. Welcomes the progress made in the deployment and operationalization of the MONUSCO Intervention Brigade, as authorized by UN Security Council resolution 2098 (2013).
7. Calls for an immediate and independent investigation by the joint verification mechanism, to determine the origin of shells falling on Rwandese territory.
8. Underlines that any direct intervention by DRC's neighbouring countries can only exacerbate the situation
9. Welcomes the efforts of the Member States of the ICGRL, the AU and the UN in their steps and initiatives aimed at seeking a lasting, structural and peaceful political solution to the crisis;
10. Recalls that the implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region offers an appropriate basis for the promotion of lasting peace in eastern DRC and in the region.
11. Calls on the African Union and the Great lakes countries for further steps to fight illicit exploitation and trade of natural resources which is one of the reasons for the proliferation and trafficking of arms which is among the major factors fuelling and exacerbating conflicts in the Great Lakes region;
12. Calls on the international community, including the European Union, AU and UN, to continue to do everything possible to provide more coordinated and effective aid to people in the east of DRC and contribute to efforts to respond to the humanitarian disaster;
13. Calls on the Congolese authorities to guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Human Rights defenders and to conduct a prompt, thorough, impartial and transparent in order to identify all those responsible for the threats, attacks and murders against several of them;
14. Recommends the United Nations Human Rights Council to adopt during its 24th session a strong Resolution reestablishing a form of monitoring mechanism concerning the human rights situation in DRC and which should ask the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to submit a report on the situation of human rights in the DRC
15. Urges the Congolese authorities to undertake the effective creation of a specialized mixed court that will help combat impunity and judge authors of serious violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law in the DRC, including sexual violence against women;
16. Stresses the importance of the adoption of long awaited pieces of legislation, including the Law on the protection of Human Rights defenders and the Law on conformity of national law with the Rome statute;
17. Calls on the International Community to ensure that human rights monitoring accompanies all phases of MONUSCO’s operations
18. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Commission Vice-President / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the African Union, the governments of the countries of the Great Lakes region, the President, Prime Minister and Parliament of the DRC, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, the UN Security Council and the UN Human Rights Council.