The UN Human Rights Council established on Friday an urgent fact-finding mission and commission of inquiry into atrocities committed by all parties to the armed conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The resolution was passed by consensus during the thirty-seventh special session, which was held at the DRC’s request.

With a resurgence of fighting in the DRC, especially in parts of Kivu region such as Goma, violations of human rights have been witnessed, including summary executions of civilians, widespread sexual violence against women, mass displacement of civilian populations, attacks against humanitarian actors, journalists, and civilian infrastructure such as hospitals and schools. The situation has disproportionately impacted women and children who are exposed to gender-based violence and trafficking for purposes of sexual slavery and war recruitment. The displaced population have also been affected severely by the disruption of essential services, including education and healthcare.

Due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis, the council requested the High Commissioner to urgently set up the fact-finding mission, which is to investigate all allegations of human rights violations committed in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu in the eastern DRC, and submit a report on the events that have occurred since January 2022.

The fact-finding mission will collect evidence of rights abuses, serious violations of international humanitarian law, and international crimes. It is expected to present an oral update of the investigation and recommendations to the council’s fifty-ninth session and a comprehensive report to the sixtieth session and to the General Assembly at its eightieth session.

Surya Deva, chair of the Coordination Committee of the Special Procedures, also called upon the international community to act decisively and member states to increase humanitarian funding to ensure the continued provision of essential services and assistance to displaced populations and those affected by violence.

The council condemned Rwanda’s military support for the M23, which has caused many civilian casualties and displacements. Therefore, it has called upon Rwanda to cease its support for the M23 and withdraw from the DRC territory. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called on all parties to cease hostilities and resume dialogue within the framework of the Luanda and Nairobi processes established to end the conflict.