UN Human Rights DHC on DRC at 58 HRC edit
/
3:43
/
MP4
/
539.7 MB
Download

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif on DRC at Human Rights Council

The offensive launched this year by the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group in the North and South Kivu provinces has exacerbated an already dire human rights and humanitarian crisis in Eastern DRC,she said.

The Deputy High Commissioner noted that since the last update to the Council in October, the UN Joint Human Rights Office has endeavored to provide technical support to the authorities to strengthen the rule of law, advance on transitional justice and enhance the fight against impunity, despite this latest wave of violence.

The scale of violence and insecurity have hampered the ability of our Office fully to discharge this mandate. Nevertheless, with our assistance, trials were held that resulted in the conviction of a warlord and former militiamen for war crimes and crimes against humanity for murder, torture, rape and sexual slavery,” Al-Nashif said.

Let me underline with grave concern that, since the beginning of the year, the UN has documented 602 victims of extrajudicial and summary execution committed by all parties to the conflict in North and South Kivu provinces alone. In Ituri province in the northeast, several groups continue to kill, maim and abduct civilians.”

“Meanwhile, DRC forces and their allies have also attacked civilians. Conflict-related sexual violence continues to run rampant and is being committed by all parties. Cases increased by more than 270 per cent from January to February,” she said.

Close to 26 million people, nearly a quarter of the population of the country, are experiencing emergency and crisis levels of food insecurity. In total, nearly 7.8 million people are displaced in the DRC, including 3.8 million in the Kivu provinces alone. Thousands of schools have been closed, destroyed, turned into emergency shelters or occupied by armed groups, and more than 1.6 million children in the eastern DRC are no longer in education

“Any plans for a sustainable peace must tackle the root causes of the conflict, including the illegal exploitation of the national wealth that lies in natural resources. The DRC authorities must also take a firm and consistent stand against corruption, impunity, and hate speech, by whomever committed,” she said.

The Deputy High Commissioner said that the transitional justice processes needed accelerating, including towards the finalization of inclusive national consultations. The DRC's national policy on transitional justice – developed with the support of UN Human Rights Office – carries the potential for meaningful future truth and reconciliation efforts.

As an Office, we will continue to support this work wherever possible. This involves the provision of forensic expertise, logistical and financial resources, and support to victims and witnesses. We are also committed to supporting the reform of the Penal Code to integrate provisions that make hate speech a full-fledged offence,” Al-Nashif said.

“After almost three decades of war, and over six million deaths, it should be abundantly clear that there is no military solution to this conflict.”

Adding that the people of the DRC need local, national, and regional actors to demonstrate leadership and prioritise dialogue over self-interest, greed and violence. The international community must also take decisive, concrete and urgent action to facilitate a durable peace in the DRC.

“States and private companies that profit from natural resources exploited under dangerous and illegal conditions must stop hiding behind complex and shadowy supply chains,” she said.

“Without concrete action, current violence may well engulf the entire region. The risks of such catastrophe are growing by the day.”

Al-Nashif said there must be accountability for the extreme scale of suffering of civilians in the DRC. It is time for the international community to send a strong and unequivocal message to all parties that the violations and abuses, many potentially amounting to international crimes, must cease and be effectively addressed.

ENDS

For more information and media requests, please contact:

In Geneva

Liz Throssell: + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org

Jeremy Laurence: +41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org

Tag and share

X @UNHumanRights

Facebook unitednationshumanrights

Instagram @unitednationshumanrights

STORY: UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif on DRC at Human Rights Council

TRT: 03:42

SOURCE: UNTV / OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: English/NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 01-04-2025 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST

  1. Exterior shot: Palais des Nations, Geneva.
  2. Wide shot: wide shot room 20
  3. Soundbite (English) — Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, (OHCHR): The offensive launched this year by the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group in the North and South Kivu provinces has exacerbated an already dire human rights and humanitarian crisis in Eastern DRC.”
  4. Cut away: Room 20
  5. Soundbite (English)— Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, (OHCHR): The scale of violence and insecurity have hampered the ability of our Office fully to discharge this mandate. Nevertheless, with our assistance, trials were held that resulted in the conviction of a warlord and former militiamen for war crimes and crimes against humanity for murder, torture, rape and sexual slavery.”
  6. Cut away: Room 20
  7. Soundbite (English)— Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, (OHCHR): Let me underline with grave concern that, since the beginning of the year, the UN has documented 602 victims of extrajudicial and summary execution committed by all parties to the conflict in North and South Kivu provinces alone. In Ituri province in the northeast, several groups continue to kill, maim and abduct civilians.”
  8. Cut away: Room 20
  9. Soundbite (English)— Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, (OHCHR): Meanwhile, DRC forces and their allies have also attacked civilians. Conflict-related sexual violence continues to run rampant and is being committed by all parties. Cases increased by more than 270 per cent from January to February.”
  10. Cut away: Room 20
  11. Soundbite (English)— Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, (OHCHR): Any plans for a sustainable peace must tackle the root causes of the conflict, including the illegal exploitation of the national wealth that lies in natural resources. The DRC authorities must also take a firm and consistent stand against corruption, impunity, and hate speech, by whomever committed.”
  12. Cut away: Room 20
  13. Soundbite (English)— Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, (OHCHR): As an Office, we will continue to support this work wherever possible. This involves the provision of forensic expertise, logistical and financial resources, and support to victims and witnesses. We are also committed to supporting the reform of the Penal Code to integrate provisions that make hate speech a full-fledged offence.”
  14. Cut away: Room 20
  15. Soundbite (English)— Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, (OHCHR): After almost three decades of war, and over six million deaths, it should be abundantly clear that there is no military solution to this conflict.”
  16. Cut away: Room 20
  17. Soundbite (English)— Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, (OHCHR): States and private companies that profit from natural resources exploited under dangerous and illegal conditions must stop hiding behind complex and shadowy supply chains.”
  18. Cut away: Room 20
  19. Soundbite (English)— Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, (OHCHR): Without concrete action, current violence may well engulf the entire region. The risks of such catastrophe are growing by the day.”
  20. Cut away: Room 20
  21. Soundbite (English)— Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, (OHCHR): There must be accountability for the extreme scale of suffering of civilians in the DRC.”
  22. Cut away: Room 20
  23. Soundbite (English)— Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, (OHCHR): It is time for the international community to send a strong and unequivocal message to all parties that the violations and abuses, many potentially amounting to international crimes, must cease and be effectively addressed. Only then can we lay the foundations for the sustainable peace and development which the people of the DRC have awaited for so long.”


Documents 1
Download Storyline
Download

Audio Files 1
Download UN Human Rights DHC on DRC at 58 HRC edit
Download

Similar Stories

DRC  UN report raises spectre of war crimes and crimes against humanity in North and South Kivu   Ravina Shamdasani UN Human Rights Spokesperson

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

DRC UN report raises spectre of war crimes and crimes against humanity in North and South Kivu Ravina Shamdasani UN Human Rights Spokesperson ENG FRA

A UN report on the Democratic Republic of Congo raises specter of war crimes and crimes against humanity in North and South Kivu, according to UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.

Global air pollution update - WMO 04 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WMO

Global air pollution update - WMO 04 September 2025 ENG FRA

As billions of people continue to breathe polluted air that causes more than 4.5 million premature deaths every year, UN climate experts on Friday highlighted how damaging microscopic smoke particles from wildfires play their part, travelling half-way across the world.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Cameroon

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Cameroon ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence made the following comment on the on-going presidential election process in Cameroon at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva. 

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Myanmar

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Myanmar ENG FRA

The UN Human Rights Office released a new report on Myanmar, describing death, destruction and desperation which reflect atrocities committed in 2017. 

Afghanistan earthquake update OCHA - IFRC - UNHCR

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , IFRC , UNHCR

Afghanistan earthquake update OCHA - IFRC - UNHCR ENG FRA

Afghanistan: Humanitarians scramble to reach survivors of deadly quake; response at ‘breaking point’

In remote eastern Afghanistan, aid workers are racing to assist survivors of Sunday’s devastating earthquake as the death toll continues to climb, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.

Gaza - Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA

1

1

1

Edited News | UNRWA

Gaza - Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA ENG FRA

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, repeated his urgent call for a ceasefire in Gaza on Friday, amid increased military Israeli activity in the enclave’s largest city.

Gaza update - OCHA WHO 29 August 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , WHO

Gaza update - OCHA WHO 29 August 2025 ENG FRA

Amid reports of increased Israeli military operations across Gaza City on Friday, UN aid agencies repeated urgent warnings of ongoing famine and a likely rise in preventable disease, linked to the dire living conditions in the war-shattered enclave.

OHCHR-Ravina Shamdasani: increasing executions in Iran

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

OHCHR-Ravina Shamdasani: increasing executions in Iran ENG FRA

UN calls for Iran to halt executions and move towards ending the death penalty.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al Kheetan on Killing of Journalists in Gaza

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al Kheetan on Killing of Journalists in Gaza ENG FRA

The UN Human Rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan made the following comment on the killing of journalists in Gaza at the bi-weekly press briefing.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan on “rotation” practice by Egyptian Government

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan on “rotation” practice by Egyptian Government ENG FRA

The UN Human Rights Office on Tuesday called on Egyptian authorities to end the practice known as “rotation”, which allows Government critics to be held arbitrarily and for prolonged periods.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Sudan attacks

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Sudan attacks ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on deadly attacks by the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan 

Gaza City famine – UN OCHA, WFP, WHO, OHCHR 22 August 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , OHCHR , UNITED NATIONS , WFP , WHO

Gaza City famine – UN OCHA, WFP, WHO, OHCHR 22 August 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza: Famine “irrefutably” confirmed, UN humanitarians unite in plea for aid access

Famine has been confirmed in Gaza Governorate by the world’s top authority on food security and will spread further within the Strip unless fighting stops and much more aid is allowed in, UN humanitarians said on Friday.