GCRHR Comments on DRC Mapping Exercise Report

The Global Campaign for Rwandans' Human Rights welcomes the report published by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The report explains that grave crimes were perpetrated. It is important that the recommendations called for in the document are implemented in order to give justice to victims of the serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law that were committed in the Democratic Republic of Congo between March 1993 and June 2003.

The Global Campaign for Rwandans' Human Rights recommends that, as a result of this report, the UN should without delay establish a judicial mechanism to address the numerous international crimes committed in the DRC.

The Global Campaign for Rwandans' Human Rights requests the UN to take its responsibility and honour the Congolese and Rwandan people who have a "right to the truth on all the serious violations of human rights". This can be achieved by the establishment of a new, non-judicial "truth commission" that can help determine responsibilities; preserve evidence; identify the perpetrators of atrocities; recommend compensation measures and institutional reforms; and provide individual victims with a broader platform in which to air their grievances and concerns.

Combining truth-seeking with justice will be an important tool that contributes to bringing about peace, deterring any future conflicts, ending recurring local conflicts and permanently ceasing the culture of impunity in the African Great Lakes region.