The 49th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council

28 February to 1 April 2022

Statement of the International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

Item 10: Technical Assistance and Capacity Building 

29 March 2022

By Patricia Jjuuko

Thank you, President.

We acknowledge the positive developments that have occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly in the Government’s commitment to put in place a national transitional justice framework including the establishment of a provincial truth, justice, and reconciliation system in Kasai. 

We are concerned however about the continued, numerous armed groups causing violence in the Kasai and other regions of the Eastern Congo. This has culminated in the internal displacement of 5.5 million people and has seen 930,000 people seek refuge in at least 20 countries since November of 2021.

EAFORD and the Geneva International Centre for Justice recognize that several thousand fighters from various armed groups surrendered throughout the year, but we are disturbed by the many who have returned to armed groups as the authorities failed to take them through an effective Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration program.

In this matter, we would like to ask: how is the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration program being strengthened to avoid the failures of the past similar programs and to make certain that peace and security are established in the region?