Declaration by the High Representative Catherine Ashton on behalf of the European Union on the OHCHR Report of the Mapping Exercise documenting the most serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed within the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo between March 1993 and June 2003
BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, October 6, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The European Union takes good note of the publication, on 1 October, by the Office of the
High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) of its report covering grave violations of
human rights and international humanitarian law in the Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC) during the period of 1993 to 2003.
The European Union considers the report an additional contribution in the global fight
against impunity for human rights violations. The EU recalls its determination to support
the prevention of crimes violating human rights and humanitarian law, and the need to hold
accountable the perpetrators of such crimes.
The European Union notes the comments by the DRC, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and
Angola published by OHCHR, and believes they should be assessed.
The European Union thanks the OHCHR for having compiled the report and encourages an
adequate follow-up in line with the broader efforts aimed at fighting impunity in the DRC
and in the region, including possible developments regarding transitional justice.
The Candidate Countries Croatia*, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia* and
Iceland+, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential
candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and the EFTA countries
Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as the
Republic of Moldova and Armenia align themselves with this declaration.
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the
Stabilisation and Association Process.
+ Iceland continues to be a member of the EFTA and of the European Economic Area.
SOURCE
European Union
