Dr Congo supports the responsibility of violence against children: Premier

GENEVA

The Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC) fully supports the efforts to hold the perpetrators for violence against children, Prime Minister Judith Supplwa Tuluka said Wednesday, denouncing the ongoing abuse in the east of conflicts in the country.

Speaking in an interview with Anadolu, Tuluka emphasized that the recruitment of children in the Congolese army is strictly prohibited.

However, he recognized reports from young students and university assistants who were recruited by armed groups in the Eastern Rubber City.

“We have followed, like you, UNICEF, who has indicated that there have been children violations “.

The Congolese government has “limited” the ability to intervene against such violations

The prime minister emphasized that the affected regions are currently “arbitrarily occupied”, which limits the government’s ability to intervene directly. However, he promised that the authorities would seek justice for the victims.

“We denounce this, and we hope that justice will be delivered and that all those who have committed such atrocities will be prosecuted,” he said, added that the presence of the International Criminal Court Prosecutor (ICC) in Kinshasa could contribute to responsibility efforts.

Prosecutor Karim Khan arrived at Congo on Tuesday to have conversations with Congolese officials regarding the ongoing conflict.

He also pointed out that a mission and investigation of research of facts backed by the UN, initiated through a resolution of the Human Rights Council, would help restore the rights of those affected.

The eastern provinces of the RDC have been plagued by violence, with numerous armed groups accused of human rights abuse, including the forced recruitment of children.

Last week, the UN Human Rights Office confirmed that the M23 rebels carried out “summary executions” of children in the east of the Congo as violence continues to grab the region.

“Our office has confirmed cases of summary execution of children by M23 after they entered the city of Bukavu last week,” Ravina Shamdasani spokeswoman.

The office also documented reports of armed children, which raised more concerns about the ongoing conflict.

“We are also aware that children were in possession of weapons,” Shamdasani said, urging Rwanda and the M23 rebels to defend Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.

Violations against children ‘tripled’ since January.

UNICEF said Wednesday that he is deeply concerned about the significant increase in serious violations reports against children in parts of the Eastern Congo, stressing that the number of incidents has been “tripled” since the last climbing of violence, which began on the 24th of January.

During this period, he said in a statement, the data reveal that “cases of sexual violence have increased by more than twice and a half times, the kidnappings have increased six times, killing and mutilating increase seven times, and attacks against schools and hospitals They have multiplied by 12. “

An alarm also sounded on the reports of mass recruitment impulses by the conflict aimed at young people, which significantly increases the risk of abduction and registration of children.

“Already, the RDC has one of the largest numbers of verified cases of children’s recruitment in conflicts since the global records began in 2005,” he said.

He pointed out that since January, UNICEF and partners have supported the projection of 5,639 potential recruits, including 302 women and girls, travel the country, identify 63 boys, 12 of the girls and meet them with their families.

The M23 group has intensified its territorial control in the East of the Congo since December, taking the provincial capitals of rubber and bukavu.

The fighting in the Eastern Congo have led to the death of more than 7,000 people this year, Tuluka told the UN Human Rights Council on Monday.

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