Human Right Violations On The Rise In DRC

Abidjan, Sept 21 (AIP) - A few months before the presidential elections scheduled for December 23, 2018, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has seen a significant increase in human rights violations, the UN Joint Representative and Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNJHRO) in Kinshasa, Abdoul Aziz Thioye, has said.

"What we must remember for this month of August 2018 is the general increase in the number of human rights violations.

The Joint Office documented 620 human rights violations throughout the country, up from July 2018, when we recorded 515 human rights violations, "said Abdoul Aziz Thioye, in a statement in a publication on the United Nations website.

According to the head of the UNJHRO, the number of state agents, armed forces (FARDC) and the national police responsible for human rights violations had almost doubled during the month of August and exceeded that of the groups.

"The number of violations committed by state agents in August 2018 has almost doubled compared to July and they are responsible for nearly 66 per cent of documented violations across the country.'

The Joint Office, said, it provided support to the civilian and military courts in August in the fight against impunity.

Twenty-nine (29) military and 13 police officers were convicted of acts constituting human rights violations.

As part of its protection program, the UNJHRO handled 20 cases of threats and human rights violations against 40 people, including 29 human rights defenders, 10 victims of violations and a journalist.