Representative of the Secretary General for human rights visits the DRC

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Representative of the Secretary General for human rights visits the DRC

MONUC - February 18, 2008

The Representative of the UN Secretary General on the rights of internally displaced persons, Mr. Walter Kälin, is paying a work visit to the DRC from 12-22 February, 2008. The goal of the visit is to examine the situation in the country concerning internal displacements of the population, and to engage in dialogue with the government, the internally displaced, and the actors concerned.

The Goma acts of engagement paves the way for real opportunities for peace in DRC.

”My first trip to the DRC, at this key time, offers me the opportunity of engaging in dialogue with the authorities and actors implicated in the improvement of the protection of the internally displaced people,” he said at the time of his arrival in MONUC HQ.

At MONUC HQ, he had discussions with Alan Doss, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in the DRC, and his deputy, Ross Mountain as well as the chief of staff of MONUC military, Alain Kerriguy.

In Kinshasa before leaving for eastern DRC, Mr. Kälin also met the Minister for Justice and Human Rights, Mutombo Bakafua Nsenda, the vice-Minister of the Interior, Joseph-Davel Mpango Kundo, the Rapporteur of the IEC, Dieudonné Mirimo, as well as members of national and international NGO’s.

He went on 15 February 2008 to eastern DRC, where he is expected to visit displaced persons camps in North and South-Kivu, and Bunia. Mr. Kälin will also hold meetings with some members of government, civil society representatives, as well national and international humanitarian NGOs.

Mr. Kälin thinks that “the Goma acts of engagement paves the way for real opportunities for peace in DRC”. In this context, “it is essential to address the challenges with hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people in the DRC,” he added.

Upon his return to Kinshasa on 21 February next, Mr. Kälin will have discussions with the DRC Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Social and Family Affairs, as well as the United Nations country team.

I will present a report to the Human Rights Council making a certain number of concrete recommendations to the actors concerned.

At the end of his mission in the DRC, Mr. Kälin will present his report to the Human Rights Council, with his conclusions and recommendations.

”After each one of my missions, I will present a report to the Human Rights Council identifying the major challenges confronting internally displaced people, and will make a certain number of concrete recommendations to the actors concerned,” Mr. Kälin explained.

Mr. Kälin was appointed Representative of the UN Secretary General on the human rights of internally displaced persons in September 2004, at the request of the Human Rights Commission.

His mandate, as defined by resolution 2004/55, consists in advocacy for the rights of Internally Displaced Persons, reinforcing dialogue between governments and civil society, drawing the attention to violations of human rights and encouraging governments to adopt laws protecting displaced persons.