Attachments
Human Rights Council
Fifty-fourth session
11 September–6 October 2023
Agenda item 10
Technical assistance and capacity-building
Summary
In its resolution 51/36 of 7 October 2022, the Human Rights Council renewed the mandate of the team of international experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo and requested the team to provide the necessary technical support to the Government in its implementation of the national strategy on transitional justice. The Council also requested the team of international experts to submit its final report to the Council, in the framework of an enhanced interactive dialogue, at its fifty-fourth session, and to present it with an oral update at its fifty-second session.
The implementation of this expanded mandate comes against a backdrop of gradual withdrawal of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a worsening security situation and preparations for upcoming elections.
Under its expanded mandate, the team of international experts conducted four field visits and organized two workshops in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Rights and the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: one on assessing the implementation of the various recommendations from its previous reports, and the other on drafting the strategic action plan on transitional justice of the Ministry of Human Rights. It took part in a workshop in Kananga to validate the operating texts of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission of Kasai-Central Province and in the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Commission and the Joint Office, after which the Commission’s activities were officially launched.
The escalation of the M23 attacks and the East African Community’s facilitation of the Nairobi Process have underlined the need to address the cross-border aspects of conflict and transitional justice.
To this end, the team of international experts held a virtual meeting with the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region on the inclusion of transitional justice in subregional conflict resolution initiatives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Lastly, the team of international experts offered its conclusions and made recommendations with a view to strengthening current and future activities.