a group of 225 victims and witnesses of human rights abuses (153 women, 68 men and four minor girls) participating in a court proceeding supported by the Mission

Cases
Case status
Unknown
Location of case in SG report
2022-025-001
Relevant SG report
Year of the report
2022
Country Geolocation

Latitude: -4.038333

Longitude: 21.758664

Country Geolocation (linked Cases)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
From Region
UN body that raised the case prior to the SG report
  • UN Peace Operation / Political mission
Dates of prior UN action
15 July 2021
Type of record
Unnamed individual/group/organization
Gender
Gender unclear
Was the victim a foreign national?
No
Was the victim a minor?
No
Type of rights defended
  • Unclear in SG Report
Was the victim a civil servant, member of the security forces or of the judiciary?
No
Reported trigger of reprisal

a group of 225 victims and witnesses of human rights abuses (153 women, 68 men and four minor girls) participating in a court proceeding supported by the Mission

Engagement with UN body
  • UN Peace Operation / Political mission
Type of attempted engagement
  • Meeting with UN officials during country visit / with locally present UN officials
  • Submission of information to UN
Reprisal information
  1. During the reporting period, the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) of the UN Mission for the Stabilization of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) documented twelve incidents of intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the Mission (A/HRC/48/47, paras. 46–58). Incidents were attributed to State actors and armed groups in different regions affecting 12 members of civil society organizations, one journalist, three humanitarian NGOs, and a group of 225 victims and witnesses of human rights abuses (153 women, 68 men and four minor girls) participating in a court proceeding supported by the Mission. Names and further details are withheld due to fear of further reprisals.
  2. Reportedly, six members of civil society organizations received death threats, three were threatened with legal action, and two were subjected to and survived cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment and attempted murder. The three organizations were threatened with legal action by the leader of an armed group for sharing information with the UN on alleged human rights abuses by that armed group, including allegations of rape and child recruitment.
  3. The group of 225 victims and witnesses taking part in the aforementioned court proceeding suffered physical attacks, looting at their homes, and death threats by members of the armed group whose leader was arrested and involved in the said proceeding as defendant. The violence and abuses took place following their sharing of information and cooperation with the Mission in support of the court proceedings.
  4. Five of the incidents were documented in the Lubero territory of Beni; three in the Nyabiondo and Masisi territories in the North Kivu; two in the Kamomia territory of Kasai, one in Baraka territory of South Kivu, and one in Maniema. Six incidents were attributed to government authorities (3), the Congolese armed forces (1), the police (1), and intelligence services (1). The remaining six were reportedly perpetrated by various armed groups.
Types of reprisals suffered
  • Physical attack: Physical attack - General
  • Property damage/raid/search/confiscation
  • 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
Was the case raised by a State at the UN?
No
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?
No