United Nations Radio

Justice for the mass rapes that took place in a string of villages in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is being demanded by two senior UN officials. 240 people were raped in North Kivu province between July and August. Athule Khare, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, was recently in Congo where he was investigating the crimes. In his briefing to the Security Council, he calls for action against the leaders of armed groups behind he attacks.  Jocelyne Sambira reports:

KHARE: It is essential that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are swiftly apprehended and brought to justice. Rapid and exemplary punishment would deter others who might repeat similar criminal acts.

NARRATOR: The Security Council already has travel bans and asset freezes on members of the rebel groups. Margot Wallstrom, Special Representative of the Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict wants the Council to go a step further and "black-list" the rebel chiefs.

WALLSTROM: We already have some names such as Colonel Mayele, the Mai Mai Cheka Chief of Staff, and Colonel Serafim of FDLR who was present on the scene. And these names are starting point and constitute leads and leverage by which we may also identify some of the other participants in and architects of the mass rapes in Kibua.

NARRATOR: But for the Congolese Permanent Representative to the UN, Aleki Atoki these measures will have no effect on the rebels.

ATOKI: Some of your delegations will be tempted to seek the easy way out, that would be to establish an entire series of sanctions that in actual fact in the depths of the Equatorial forest will have no impact, and will be entirely ineffective, and would not be able to bring relief to us from this horror that we the men and the women of the Congo have been in, that is horror which is our daily lot, and a horror which has become commonplace.

NARRATOR: After the mass rapes, the spotlight fell on the UN peacekeepers stationed some 30km from the area for not being able to rescue the population. Athul Khare was made several recommendations to improve communications and response.

KHARE: While the primary responsibility for the protection of civilians lies with the State, its national army and police force, clearly, we have also failed. Our actions were not adequate, resulting in unacceptable brutalisation of the population. We must do better.

NARRATOR: Khare's recent investigation uncovered more rapes in the North and South Kivu, in the last two months, bringing the total number of incidents between July and August to 500. Margot Wallstrom believes it is time to put an end to this.

WALLSTROM: We cannot turn back time for the victims of brutal acts of organized sexual violence. As we strive to help these survivors, we must do our utmost to ensure there are no more victims.

PRES: Margot Wallstrom, Special Representative for the Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict.