Search Results for: congo

Amnesty International raised concerns on Tuesday regarding the ongoing human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Since the Rwandan-backed rebel group, M23, captured the city of Goma in January, violence has continued to escalate. The organization called for the international community to take action and pressure all actors to comply with International [...]

Last week, after a six-hour drive, I arrived in Charlevoix, Quebec, where G7 Foreign Ministers met from March 12 to 14. Hosted by Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly, the meeting was attended by the foreign ministers of the UK, Germany, the US, Italy, Japan and the European Union (EU). When I arrived at [...]

A UN report released on Wednesday found that armed groups operating in the Haut Oubangui region of the Central African Republic (CAR) have been carrying out attacks against Muslim communities and Sudanese refugees, resulting in human rights violations. The report, prepared by the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in [...]

UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders called Wednesday for urgent support for rights defenders in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor recognized the deteriorating situation in the DRC, stating: “Human rights defenders in the eastern DRC are currently at extreme risk of reprisals for their human rights [...]

The government of Rwanda is seeking damages of £50 million from the UK following the cancellation of a migrant transfer deal between Rwanda and the UK on Monday. The controversy comes amidst growing human rights concerns and diplomatic tension over Rwanda’s military presence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Rwanda’s government spokesperson, Yolande [...]

UN Human Rights Office expressed grave concerns on Monday concerning attacks on hospitals and abductions of patients by the Rwanda-backed rebel group M23 during the ongoing armed conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Ravina Shamdasani, UN Human Rights Office spokesperson, stated that M23 rebels on February 28 raided CBCA Ndosho Hospital and [...]

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned on Monday that escalating conflicts and deepening societal divisions are fueling “turbulence and unpredictability” across the globe. Addressing the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Türk called for renewed commitments to international law and human rights, emphasizing the urgent need for collective action in multiplying crises. [...]

Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged South Africa and other countries on Monday to endorse the political declaration on strengthening the protection of civilians from the humanitarian consequences arising from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. Crisis, conflict and arms director at HRW Ida Sawyer commented, “South Africa should deepen its determination to protecting [...]

Judi Rever is a Montreal-based journalist and author of In Praise of Blood, which investigates mass violence under Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s regime, using survivor testimonies, former soldiers, and leaked UN documents. A Ryerson journalism graduate, Rever covered the Congo-Rwanda crisis for Radio France-Internationale in 1997 and later reported for Agence France-Presse. Her work has [...]

UN Secretary-General António Guterres criticized “warmongers” for prolonging ongoing conflicts worldwide on Monday, calling on leaders to uphold international law and the UN Charter. The statement marks the beginning of the 58th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva and the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.  Guterres emphasized the impact of [...]