A/HRC/13/63
page 18
Government efforts to clean up the ranks of the security forces.29 Various actors have
established training programmes for FARDC and PNC on human rights, international
humanitarian law and the reformed Congolese legislation on sexual violence. The
experts take note of MONUC efforts to facilitate coordination between the many actors
engaged in assisting security reform. However, the Government’s resistance to
instituting real security sector reform, including human rights vetting, creates a dilemma
for many assistance partners considering whether to extend their engagement.
68.
While legislation to reform FARDC is currently being considered by the
National Assembly, the experts are very concerned that no process has been initiated to
reform the intelligence services, which are in particular need of reform from a human
rights point of view.
69.
Progress has been with regard to the recommended construction of barracks,30
which keep soldiers away from civilian populations. FARDC, MONUC, the United
Kingdom, the International Organization for Migration and the European Union
Mission of Assistance for Security Sector Reform are currently evaluating a total of 25
proposed sites in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. In South Kivu, the
United Nations Development Programme and the International Organization for
Migration have been rehabilitating accommodation facilities to garrison approximately
3,000 FARDC soldiers at Camp Saio.31
70.
Having recommended that MONUC should not cooperate with FARDC
commanders and units implicated in human rights violations,32 the experts are pleased to
note that MONUC adopted the policy of not participating in or supporting FARDC
operations if there are substantial grounds for believing that the FARDC units involved
will violate international humanitarian, human rights or refugee law.33 The experts stress
the importance of consistently implementing this policy as a matter of utmost priority.
In this context, they reiterate their concerns about the reported involvement of alleged
perpetrators of serious crimes, including Bosco Ntaganda, in ongoing FARDC
operations.34
C. Preventing the (re-) recruitment of children by armed actors and
socially reintegrating children associated with armed actors
71.
As noted above (para. 35), some progress has been made in identifying children
associated with armed groups, although grave concerns persist that other children
remain in the FARDC ranks, including as a result of new recruitments. The Government
29
See A/HRC/10/59, paras. 96 and 98.
30
Ibid., para. 96.
31
S/2009/623, para. 34.
32
See A/HRC/10/59, para. 98.
33
S/2009/623, para. 12.
34
See also the press release of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions,
Mr. Philip Alston, of 16 December 2009, available at:
http://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=9679&LangID=E.
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