SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO TO VISIT THAT COUNTRY

28 November 2003


The Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iulia Motoc, will visit that country from 29 November to 11 December at the invitation of the Government.

During the mission, her fourth since she became Special Rapporteur, Ms. Motoc will visit Kinshasa, Kindu in the province of Maniema, Lubumbashi, and Likasi in the province of Katanga. She expects to meet with the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Joseph Kabila, and the Heads of the National Assembly and Senate, as well as the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Minister for Justice and Human Rights. The Special Rapporteur will also meet with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General who heads the UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, representatives of other UN bodies as well as diplomats and representatives of civil society.

The Special Rapporteur will tackle questions related to massive violations of human rights, impunity, national reconciliation, illegal exploitation of natural resources, and the administration of justice. She will also deal with difficulties facing vulnerable groups, especially female victims of sexual violence, children associated with armed groups and indigenous persons. The Special Rapporteur will present her evaluation of the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as well as her recommendations to the sixtieth session of the Commission on Human Rights which will meet in Geneva in March and April 2004.

Ms. Motoc was appointed as Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in November 2001. A Professor of International Law at the University of Bucharest, she is also a member of the Sub-Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights of the United Nations.