HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS WELCOMES DECISION OF FRANCE TO SEND TROOPS TO THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

30 May 2003



Sergio Vieira de Mello, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, reiterates his welcome of France's intention to deploy troops in the Ituri region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of a multinational force in response to the appeal of the Secretary-General. He also reiterates his earlier call for the Security Council and neighboring countries to fully support the deployment of such a force.
The High Commissioner continues to be very concerned over the plight of the civilian population in Bunia and the level and extent of the atrocities committed there, especially against women and children. He also strongly deplores the use of the mass media to incite hatred against particular groups and calls on all parties to stop the killings of civilians and do their utmost to prevent further violations of humanitarian law and of the most fundamental human rights. For those who are engaged in such crimes, he stresses, there can be no impunity. In a recent, extensive discussion with the newly appointed Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Luis Moreno Ocampo, both agreed that such heinous crimes as are being committed in the Ituri region be an early focus of the ICC's attention.



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