Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2011-07-07-Speech-4-295-000"
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"en.20110707.21.4-295-000"2
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"− Madam President, I would like to thank all the Members for their interest and their sensitive approach.
We all have again been appalled by perturbing news from Kivu, where a group of armed criminals abused and raped a considerable number of women in a systematic manner. These criminals were apparently ex-Mayi-Mayi deserting the Congolese armed forces after a transient and non-conclusive integration process.
This is an outrageous crime, and we are all concerned. It is therefore important to clarify the facts and bring the suspects before a court. In this regard we have been informed that a prosecutor of the Democratic Republic of Congo, supported by MONUSCO, should now be in the field in order to collect legal evidence and to prepare a prosecution case. We demand that the DRC authorities address this issue as a matter of urgency and to deliver justice.
However, indignation is not enough: I can understand this, and so we must all ask what further action needs to be taken, including by the United Nations Security Council and MONUSCO. Naturally, support for victims should be an immediate priority, and the EU is already committed to providing medical care and mitigating suffering. I can agree with you that victim support, especially healthcare, is one of the agreed priorities here, and I would like to inform you that the EU is at the forefront of these efforts through ECHO and development-funded health support actions. In addition, support for prevention, awareness-raising initiatives and political pressure is also part of the EU approach. These efforts will continue.
Sexual violence and rape continue to be pervasive in the DRC, with more than 15 000 reported cases in 2009, according to the United Nations: 15 000 rapes. It is therefore important to address the root causes of this serious issue and to ensure that Congolese justice will not remain confined to episodic reaction. The root causes are known: they lie within the endless conflicts in the eastern territory of the Republic of Congo and the absence of the rule of law in a context where the state authority remains to be concretised. Importantly, the prevalence of sexual violence both reflects and perpetuates the subordinate status of most women throughout the country.
It also has a very negative impact on a lot of children being born, as Ms de Keyser pointed out. To improve this situation, it is important to continue military and non-military action against the rebels. In this regard, it is important to bear in mind that this type of conflict – in many cases involving groups without a real political agenda, or criminals from neighbouring countries – is difficult to address in the short term. However, it is more and more urgent that decisive steps are taken in reforming the security sector. The persistent poor condition of defence, the police and justice in the Congo greatly worsens the situation.
The European Union therefore urges the Congolese authorities to give renewed priority to this challenge. Failure to make substantial progress in the defence, police and justice sectors will jeopardise the sustainability of achievements made in the economic, social and political areas. In this period of elections, tackling these issues should undoubtedly be an agenda shared by all Congolese democratic forces, as the future of the whole country is at stake.
The EU is already providing support to the security sector reform through common security and defence policy missions and the European Commission, as well as bilateral support from Member States. These actions pay particular attention to the need to combat sexual violence; for example, EUPOL has deployed a specific team of experts on sexual violence in Goma (a city in North Kivu). Support to victims also needs to be continued. The EU is ready to do more if common ground for progress is found with Member States and the Republic of Congo authorities. However, this is an area where the ultimate responsibility will always lie with the DRC itself and where the Congolese Government needs to show true leadership and determination."@en1
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