The UN Human Rights Council will convene a special meeting on February 7th in Geneva to address the escalating situation in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, following its seizure by M23 rebels backed by Rwanda. The council session, requested by 27 member states, aims to highlight the surge in human rights violations in the region, including summary executions, attacks on displacement camps, and sexual violence.
The UN Human Rights Council will hold a special meeting to discuss the situation in the eastern Congo city of Goma after it was seized by Rwanda -backed M23 rebels, a UN statement said.
The rebels last week captured the regional capital Goma in an anarchic and mineral-rich part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where wars in 1996-1997 and 1998-2003 killed millions and drew in outside nations. The conflict has led to a surge in human rights violations including summary executions, the bombing of displacement camps, reports of gang rape and other sexual violence, the UN rights office has said.requested the session and it would take place on Feb. 7 in Geneva, the UN statement said.
So far, 27 countries have supported the meeting, surpassing the requirement for a third of the 47-member council, it said. While the council has no legally binding power, its debates carry political weight and criticism can raise global pressure on governments to change course. Sometimes, investigations mandated by the council can lead to prosecutions for war crimes in international courts.
HUMAN RIGHTS CONGO RWANDA M23 REBELS INTERNATIONAL CRITICISM
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