EU Statement - HRC60 - Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the Democratic Republic of the Congo
UNITED NATION HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
60th session
Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the Democratic Republic of the Congo
9 September 2025
EU Statement
Mr. President,
High Commissioner,
The EU thanks the Fact Finding Mission and the team of international experts for their reports. We also commend the technical assistance provided, particularly in the field of forensic medicine, which plays a vital role in supporting accountability efforts and combating impunity.
The EU is deeply alarmed by the dramatic escalation of violence in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and by the FFM’s report documenting a pattern of widespread human violations and abuses by all parties, including acts which may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. The EU is appalled by the targeted attacks against civilians by all parties. Summary executions, wilful killings torture, sexual and gender-based violence, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, forced displacement and the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict are sadly only examples of various acts of human rights violations that must end immediately.
The continuing deterioration of the human rights and humanitarian situation in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo warrants the prompt operationalization of the COI for the DRC. We therefore call on all member states to ensure that OHCHR is adequately funded to carry out the mandates entrusted to it by this Council.
The EU urges the governments of the DRC, Rwanda and regional actors to intensify diplomatic efforts towards an effective and lasting peace by implementing their commitments under a comprehensive peace agreement and ensure accountability for human rights violations and abuses. We further call on Rwanda to end all support to the M23, and on the DRC to cease cooperation with the FDLR, the Wazalendo and other armed groups and to tackle hate speech.
High Commissioner, to what extent can OHCHR continue to receive and store relevant information of serious violations and abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law until the COI is operational?
Thank you.