Objective: Effective implementation of the recommendations made in the Report of the Mapping Exercise documenting the most serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed within the territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between 1993 and 2003.

For the attention of the United Nations Secretary-General in New York

Copies:

• President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC);
• The Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in the DRC;
• The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights;
• President of the African Union (AU);

Dear Secretary-General,

On the eve of the tenth anniversary on 1 October 2020 of the publication of the Report of the Mapping Exercise documenting the most serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed within the territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between 1993 and 2003, no action has been taken. No recommendations on mechanisms guaranteeing victims' right to truth, justice and reparation have been implemented. Moreover, the list of names of the alleged perpetrators of the said violations, which could constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of genocide, is still being kept secret by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva.

Massacres and mass atrocities, including sexual violence related to conflicts, continue with impunity on a daily basis, notably because some of the alleged perpetrators hold senior positions in security and defence forces institutions, while others circulate freely in foreign countries.

Dear Secretary-General,

We are convinced that there can be no security or sustainable development in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Great Lakes Region without respect for human rights and recourse to independent and impartial justice that guarantees victims their right to truth, justice and reparation.

For more than twenty years, at the Panzi Hospital, Dr Denis Mukwege, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, has been providing healthcare to the victims of rape and sexual violence used as an instrument of war, domination and terror, the extent and seriousness of which are a direct consequence of impunity for crimes under international law. These crimes continue to be committed on Congolese soil by a range of Congolese and foreign state and non-state armed groups.

His advocacy for human rights specific to women and girls, and for justice and peace, continues to attract many threats and much intimidation, because many Congolese and foreign public and private actors have an interest in maintaining the status quo so they can continue their criminal activities and avoid truth and justice.

Dear Secretary-General,

With a view to halting the recurring cycles of violence that have bereaved so many Congolese families over the last 25 years and so that justice can be done for the Congolese people, the civil society organizations that are signatories to this petition call on you to:

• Encourage the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi, who is committed to finally implementing the long-awaited transitional justice mechanisms, to rapidly implement this commitment through decisions and actions in line with the recommendations of the Mapping Exercise report;
• To mobilize the Security Council to establish an International Criminal Tribunal for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and / or specialized mixed chambers to try those most responsible for serious crimes perpetrated on the territory of the DRC, regardless of their rank or nationality;
• Ensure that once these independent and impartial judicial mechanisms have been created, they have access to the database of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, currently strictly confidential, which identifies the alleged perpetrators of the 617 violent incidents described in the Report of the Mapping Exercise documenting the most serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed between March 1993 and June 2003 on DRC territory;
• Support efforts to establish mechanisms to find the truth, ensure reparation and guarantee non-repetition, as well as a thorough reform of the security and justice sectors;
• Ensure the effective participation of victims, including women and all survivors of sexual violence, in the design, implementation and evaluation of holistic justice measures that affect them;
• Encourage the creation and support the operationalization, by the Congolese government, of a compensation fund for the benefit of survivors and victims of crimes under international law and other serious human rights violations perpetrated on Congolese territory.

Thank you in advance for your attention and, in the expectation of a response from you, we send you our best wishes.

This petition was initiated by the National Movement of Survivors of Sexual Violence in the DRC, and the Panzi Foundation (DRC and United States), and the Mukwege Foundation. It is supported by Amnesty International, FIDH, Physicians for Human Rights, Jewish World Watch, Alliance des Avocats pour les Droits de l’Homme, Institut Francophone pour Justice et Démocratie, Médecins du Monde Belgique, Stichting Vluchteling, Läkarmissionen, PMU, Yennenga Progress, Olof Palme International Center, Aktion Canchanabury e.V., l'ONG française - We are NOT Weapons of War, Les Enfants de Panzi, FILIMBI, LUCHA, ASADHO, Ligue des Electeurs, Groupe Lotus, Agir ensemble pour les droits humains, Forum réfugiées – Cosi, DIFÄM-German Institute for Medical Mission, Protection International, EurAc, Brot für die Welt/Bread for the world, Solsoc, OENZ, CNCD-11.11.11 and The Right Livelihood Award Foundation.