Human rights advocacy for massacre victims in DRC

Advocates and human rights leaders in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are calling for justice and reparations for victims of massacres and atrocities in the eastern regions of the country.

In Beni, the Collectif des victimes de l’agression rwandaise (CVAR-ONGDH) held a ceremony to honor victims and demand the prosecution of those responsible for crimes against civilians. The organization emphasized the need for improved support for survivors, particularly those with disabilities, and urged the state and the National Fund for Victim Reparation (FONAREV) to provide better assistance to foster survivor autonomy.

In South Kivu, Dr. Denis Mukwege marked the anniversary of the 1998 massacres in Kasika, Kilungutwe, and Kalama, where over a thousand civilians were killed. Mukwege called on the Congolese government and the international community to pursue justice for these historical atrocities, which involved widespread sexual violence and torture. He noted that despite the changing names of various armed groups, civilian populations continue to face a cycle of massacres, sexual violence, and forced displacement.