Human Rights Violations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

This Friday the UN released what a Congolese diplomat described as a"detailed," "credible," and "heartbreaking" document that reported human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1993 to 2003. "Tens of thousands of people were killed, and numerous others were raped, mutilated or otherwise victimized during the decade." The report includes the involvement of 21 Congolese groups in serious human rights violations and the military operations of eight other states within the Congo. The report states that at least 30,000 children were recruited by armed forces or groups and "children have been subjected to indescribable violence." The report says that if this had continued the children would have known nothing but violence creating a generation that uses violence as a means of conflict resolution. Thus compromising the chances of achieving lasting peace." Rwanda's government spokesperson called the report "yet another attempt to distort Rwanda's history and prolong instability in the Great Lakes Region" and claims that it is flawed.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/10/01/congo.atrocities.un.report/index.html

Submitted By: Erin Burneson