ICTJ in the News

August 19, 2008

Congo-Kinshasa: First Poll of Victims in East Shows High Demand for Justice

allAfrica

International Center for Transitional Justice (New York)

PRESS RELEASE

New York

Nearly half the adult population of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has faced death threats, suffered beatings or has been enslaved by armed groups, according to a new survey undertaken in the region. One third of the 2,620 people interviewed reported having been abducted for a week or more. Yet a large majority (85%) of the population believe that those responsible for the violence must be held accountable.

Those are among the key findings of Living with Fear, a 60-page report based on the survey conducted by the Human Rights Center at the University of California, Berkeley; the Payson Center for International Development at Tulane University; and the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ). Read the full report here.

"Without sustained security, people cannot rebuild their lives," said Patrick Vinck, director of the Berkeley-Tulane Initiative for Vulnerable Populations, who led the study. "Reform of the police and army are needed immediately to protect civilians. The Congolese expect that war criminals will be punished, but most remain at large. More is needed to arrest and hold accountable those responsible for the continued violence."

While a fragile peace exists, the population continues to live in fear. Fewer than half the people surveyed felt safe sleeping, walking at night in their village, or meeting strangers.

"There are important lessons for everyone involved," said Suliman Baldo, director of ICTJ's Africa Program and one of four co-authors of the report. "For the UN, the Security Council's support to the UN Mission in the DRC is fundamental. It's no less important that the UN Mission carry out its duty to protect civilians."

Background

The fighting in eastern Congo has been described as the deadliest since World War II. The International Rescue Committee and the Burnet Institute estimated that 5.4 million "excess deaths" occurred there between August 1998 and April 2007. All sides to the conflict have committed flagrant violations of international humanitarian law, including targeting civilians for murder, rape, recruiting child soldiers, and abducting civilians. A state of near impunity exists for perpetrators with only a handful being prosecuted by the International Criminal Court or national Congolese courts.

The Report

Living with Fear is based on a survey completed in December 2007 in villages and municipalities of North and South Kivu and the Ituri district. Additional interviews were conducted in the state capital, Kinshasa, and the second largest city in the country, Kisangani.

Support

Support for the study was provided by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Humanity United, the European Commission, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and the BBC World Service Trust.

About the Human Rights Center and Payson Center

The Human Rights Center at the University of California, Berkeley, investigates war crimes and serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. The Payson Center at Tulane University is an interdisciplinary center created to promote sustainable human development among vulnerable populations through innovative and interdisciplinary education, research, and programs.

About the Berkeley-Tulane Initiative on Vulnerable Populations

The Berkeley-Tulane Initiative on Vulnerable Populations conducts research in countries experiencing serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. The Initiative aims to ensure that the needs of survivors are recognized and acted on by governments, UN agencies, and nongovernmental organizations.

About the ICTJ

The International Center for Transitional Justice assists countries pursuing accountability for past mass atrocity or human rights abuse. The Center works in societies emerging from repressive rule or armed conflict, as well as in established democracies where historical injustices or systemic abuse remain unresolved.

"Congo-Kinshasa: First Poll of Victims in East Shows High Demand for Justice" was published by allAfrica.