UN Makes Civilian Protection a Priority for Peacekeepers in DR Congo

On December 21, the United Nations Security Council passed a new mandate for the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC), extending the peacekeeping force's presence for another year and refocusing the mandate to make the protection of civilians a top priority. Human Rights Watch lobbied intensively for the revised MONUC mandate and for other provisions that were ultimately incorporated. These include the need for the mission to help bring to justice "perpetrators of grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law," particularly those responsible for the recruitment and use of child soldiers, and to develop a comprehensive strategy to address sexual violence against women. Human Rights Watch has long documented the extensive crimes committed against civilians by all parties to the conflict. On January 23, the Congolese government and 22 armed groups signed a peace agreement. Human Rights Watch was present at the negotiations and helped to secure language in the agreement to ensure that perpetrators of war crimes would not be amnestied.