ACCRA/GHANA, 21 November, 2008
Stop the Rapes in Congo-DRC and End Impunity Now!
We, the participants of the Partners for Gender Justice Conference, express our deep concern about the widespread and systematic rapes of women and children in Eastern Congo – DRC. We call for concerted efforts and resources to end the rapes and impunity now.
We are members of judiciaries – from every level – representing 24 countries across Africa. We are gathered in Accra, Ghana, with a determination to strengthen access to justice for women through our Partnership for Gender Justice.
Our region has seen some of the worst examples in history of targeted sexual violence deployed on a widespread scale. An estimated 15,000 rapes are committed every year in Eastern Congo – DRC. These unspeakable atrocities are systematic and widespread, amounting to crimes against humanity.
We voice the moral and legal imperative of the world to take effective action now to restore security and ensure justice. There will be no peace in DRC unless there is security and justice for women.
We call on the international community to contribute with adequate resources and capacity to international, regional and local institutions determined to make a difference in Eastern Congo-DRC. Political, humanitarian and development actors must be equipped to empower international and local justice and security providers to stop the sexual violence without delay.
We recommend that law-enforcement agencies, lawyers, prosecutors and judges be afforded substantive and meaningful support to counter the rule by force with the rule of law, to curb and bring an end to the atrocities and grave breaches of international law.
We call for the realization of both national and international laws. The UN Security Council unanimously recognized in Resolution 1820 that unchecked sexual violence exacerbates conflict, impedes peace efforts and perpetuates insecurity in the wake of war. Moreover, Security Council Resolution 1325 emphasizes the responsibility of all States to put an end to impunity and prosecute those responsible for sexual and other violence against women and girls.
There must be no amnesty for sexual violence against women and children. We cannot allow impunity to stand, but must take swift action to sanction rape and establish accountability based on the premises of the law.
Participation of women must be guaranteed in all efforts to restore justice and security. Women survivors, service providers and leaders, alike, must play a critical role in finding effective and tangible solutions.
As we are gathered here today, our call is one: turn Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820 into concrete measures of substantive and comprehensive political and financial support now. We cannot afford to fail in our aspirations, commitments and legal imperatives. We cannot afford to fail the women and children of Eastern Congo-DRC for whom these resolutions were created!
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