World Report 2011 - Human Rights Watch

WORLD REPORT 2011war crimes charges for rape and torture. Kakwavu is the first general arrested onrape charges in Congo’s history.In another important landmark, the Office of the UN High Commissioner forHuman Rights published on October 1 its report of a human rights mapping exercisein Congo, which documented 617 incidents of serious violations of internationalhumanitarian law between 1993 and 2003. The report described the role ofthe main Congolese and foreign parties responsible—including military or armedgroups from Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, and Angola—and suggested options topursue justice for the crimes, including the proposed establishment of a mixedchamber in Congo with Congolese and international judges. Rwanda and Uganda,among others, rejected the report. In an important statement, the Congolese governmentwelcomed it and said it would support the option of a mixed chamber.Key International ActorsAt the insistence of the government, the UN withdrew some 1,500 peacekeepersand pledged to conduct a joint security assessment with the government to determinefuture drawdown.Following the mass rape in Walikale, the UN dispatched its assistant secretarygeneralfor peacekeeping operations, Atul Khare, to Congo to assess the challengesfor protecting civilians and recommend improvements. The UN secretarygeneral’sspecial representative on sexual violence in conflict, Margot Wallström,also visited Congo twice to strengthen UN action to address sexual violence andhold perpetrators accountable.On May 24 United States President Barack Obama signed legislation committingthe US to developing a comprehensive strategy to protect civilians from LRAattacks and to end the group’s violence.110