members of local human rights organizations, individual human rights defenders, journalists, and other individuals
Cases- Location of case in SG report
- 2024-047-001
- Relevant SG report
- Year of the report
- 2024
- From Country
- Country Geolocation
Latitude: -4.038333
Longitude: 21.758664
- Country Geolocation (linked Cases)
- Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- From Region
- Type of record
- Unnamed individual/group/organization
- Type of rights defended
- Unclear in SG Report
- Was the victim a civil servant or member of the security forces or of the judiciary?
- No
- Reported trigger of reprisal
sharing information with the government, the international community, including the United Nations, and the general public on M23's human rights abuses, in the areas under M23 control, specifically in several localities of Rutshuru and Masisi Territories
- Engagement with UN body
- Unclear
- Type of attempted engagement
- Unclear
- Reprisal information
During the reporting period, UNJHRO also documented M23 rebel group targeting members of local human rights organizations, individual human rights defenders, journalists, and other individuals who the group suspected of sharing information with the government, the international community, including the United Nations, and the general public on the Movement’s human rights abuses, in the areas under M23 control, specifically in several localities of Rutshuru and Masisi Territories. The M23 intimidated and harassed many of the cited actors, and arrested, kidnapped, and detained several of them. Some were forcibly disappeared, and others were killed. About 60 of these fled from their homes. Names and details of those concerned are withheld due to fear of further reprisals.
- Types of reprisals suffered
- Detention/Imprisonment: Detention/Imprisonment - General
- Disappearance/Kidnapping
- Physical attack: Killing
- Threats/Intimidations (incl. "fear of reprisal")
- Alleged/likely perpetrators
- Non-state actor(s)
- Was the reprisal based on new legislation?
- No
- Does the report make general comment about country’s environment for engagement with UN?
- No
- Government response dates
- 27 June 2024
- Government response content
On 27 June 2024, the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to the present report noting that armed groups operating in the North Kivu region, notably the M23, are the ones responsible for the human rights violations in this part of the country. The Government noted that it considers the cases above as samples bearing witness to violations committed by the M23.
- Is the country cited for a "pattern of reprisal" in the context of this case?
- No
- Is a pattern of reprisals mentioned otherwise in the context of this case?
- No
- Does the report cite "self-censorship" as an issue in the context of this case?
- Yes