Karim Khan, the Prosecutor General of the International Criminal Court (ICC), traveled to Bukavu in the province of South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to meet survivors of sexual violence treated at the Panzi Hospital. On Monday, May 29, he was greeted by victims from various parts of South Kivu province, who called for justice and reparation. The PG of the ICC has asserted with passion and energy that he will work to ensure that these crimes do not happen again.
Victims of sexual violence in the DRC often face great misery, greatly exacerbated by armed violence in the east of the country.
It is important to stress that the ICC has no ongoing investigations into serious human rights violations in the DRC. However, the visit of the Attorney General comes a few days after the filing by the DRC of a note of referral of a situation to the office of the prosecutor of the ICC requesting the opening of investigations against the M23 and its sponsors. This rebellion is involved in mass massacres, notably in Kishishe and Bambo, in the territory of Rutshuru, in North Kivu.
The UN Mapping report documented several crimes across the country, including massacres committed between March 1993 and June 2003 on Congolese territory.
In his statement, the ICC Attorney General signaled his willingness to work with the country, but also highlighted the need for flexibility on how mechanisms could be put in place. “The key is to be effective and efficient. We stop talking too much, and we start doing better, because promises have been made for years,” he said.
The work of the ICC is crucial, because these acts of violence have led to forced displacements, reducing populations to extreme poverty and suffering. It is now up to everyone, not just those on the ground, but also local, regional, national leaders, and beyond, to recognize the seriousness of the situation and work towards concrete solutions.