UN Report Warns that “Torture is Widespread and Underestimated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo”: Perpetrators Must Be Held Accountable

06-10-2022

Beatrice Serra

International Justice and Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence

“Torture is widespread and underestimated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo”, the UN Joint Human Rights Office in DRC (UNJHRO) and the UN Stabilization Mission in DRC (MONUSCO) warn. Despite the UN reporting that “93 per cent of the 3,618 registered cases of torture, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatmen  affecting 4,946 victims had happened in areas experiencing conflict”, reliable sources show that torture is generally used as by auhtoritarian leaders, such as fromer president Joseph Kabila, to violently repress and silence any dissident voice, with no exception for women and children. The newly elected president of the DRC, Felix Tshisekedi, promised to increase efforts to promote and protect human rights within the country. Yet, evidence of torture and abuses between April 1st, 2019 and April 30th, 2022 suggests that the DRC has a long way to label itself as free from human rights violations. (Freedom from Torture, n.d., UN News, 2022) 

According to the UN report, both members of State forces and armed are responsible for acts of torture, including numerous cases of sexual violence, perpetrated against deteinees as well as individuals exercising their fundamental rights, such freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. “Violence inflicted in the administration of justice, in the restriction of democratic space or in places of detention illustrates the widespread nature of torture, which thrives in a context of relative impunity as few complaints against alleged perpetrators of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment are filed or successful. This contributes to an underestimation of the problem and its magnitude”. (OHCHR, 2022; UNJHRO, MONUSCO, 2022) Mr. Christian Jorge Salazar Volkmann, Director of Field Operations and Technical Cooperation Division at OHCHR, warned the international community of the crucial importance of bringing to justice perpetrators of atrocious crimes possibly amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity. Without accountability the way towards restoring peace and security remains obstolite. (UN News, 2022)

Sources and Further Readings:

Freedom from Torture (n.d.), Democratic Republic of Congo, Freedom from Torture, retrieved on October 6th, 2022, from https://www.freedomfromtorture.org/what-we-do/fighting-torture/torture-around-the-world/democratic-republic-of-congo. 

The UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (October 5, 2022), Torture and impunity widespread in DRC's conflict areas – UN report, OHCHR, retrieved on October 6th, 2022, from https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/10/torture-and-impunity-widespread-drcs-conflict-areas-un-report. 

United Nations (October 5, 2022), Torture is ‘widespread’ and likely underestimated in DR Congo: UN report, UN News, retrieved on October 6th, 2022, from https://news.un.org/en/node/1129252

The UN Joint Human Rights Office in DRC (UNJHRO) and the UN Stabilization Mission in DRC (MONUSCO), (October 2022), Rapport sur la torture et autres peines ou traitements cruels, inhumains ou dégradants en République démocratique du Congo du 1er avril 2019 au 30 avril 2022, UNJHRO, MONUSCO, retrieved on October 6th, 2022, from https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/issues/torture/2022-10-04/041022_Joint-report-on-torture-in-the-DRC-01042019-to-30042022.pdf.