The UN Security Council on Monday called on the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to strengthen efforts to prosecute perpetrators of human rights and sexual abuses.
Brazilian UN Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, who holds the rotating Security Council presidency for February, made the statement to reporters here.
The 15-member Council "reiterated deep concerns about the persistent high levels of insecurity, violence and human rights abuses, in particular in the conflict-affected areas in the eastern part of the country, mostly affecting women and children," said Viotti.
The Council "strongly condemned" recent incidents of rape and violence in January in the North and South Kivu provinces, particularly in the town of Fizi where the UN mission in the DRC reported dozens of abuses committed by elements of Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC).
Meanwhile, Council members called for "the swift prosecution of all perpetrators of human rights abuses," including incidents of mass rape in the Walikale area of the North Kivu province that occurred in July and August 2010.
While praising both the government of the DRC and MONUSCO (the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC) for their quick response to serious attacks against civilians, the Council also voiced concern over resource shortages facing the 19,000-strong peacekeeping mission.
"(The Security Council) expressed deep concern about MONUSCO's chronic shortage of military helicopters and urged member states to urgently contribute military helicopters to fill this critical capability gap," said Viotti.
