Geneva: On the recent escalation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, the UN human rights chief highlighted the involvement of regional players and the devastation of entire communities in North and South Kivu. “In the past five weeks, thousands of people have reportedly been killed during attacks by the M23 armed group, backed by the Rwandan Armed Forces, in intense fighting against the Armed Forces of the DRC and their allies. “There are reports of rape, sexual slavery, and summary executions. More than half a million people have been forced to flee this year, adding to almost 7.8 million people already displaced in the country. The violence must stop, violations by all parties must be investigated, and dialogue must resume,” Turk stressed.
According to Kuwait News Agency, dealing with the atrocities in Myanmar, Turk stated, “2024 was the deadliest year for civilians since the military coup four years ago.” The military increased attacks on civilians as their hold on power weakened, with airstrikes and artillery shelling of villages and urban areas, arbitrary arrests and prosecutions, and the conscription of thousands of young people. He urged the international community to cut arms and finance supplies that enable the military’s repression.
On Haiti, Turk noted that gang violence spiraled out of control last year, resulting in over 5,600 deaths and thousands more injured or kidnapped. He emphasized that economic and social inequalities have worsened due to violence, including sexual violence and violence against children. Over one million people are internally displaced, half of them children. Turk stressed the importance of fully implementing the Security Council’s arms embargo and supporting the Multinational Security Support Mission to resolve the crisis.
Regarding Yemen, he stated that hostilities continue to have a significant impact on the human rights and humanitarian situation, with almost 20 million Yemenis needing humanitarian support. Turk expressed outrage at the death of a World Food Programme colleague in detention earlier this month and called for the immediate release of 23 UN staff, including eight from his own Office, detained by the Houthis.
On the civil war in Syria, Turk pointed out the lack of accountability for airstrikes on hospitals in the 2010s and the attacks on healthcare facilities in Yemen, Gaza, and Sudan. He mentioned that 2023 was the deadliest year for healthcare workers in a decade, with 480 killed during armed conflict, nearly double the previous year. Turk emphasized that accountability remedies the past and protects the future. The OHCHR is working to get transitional justice back on track. He noted that Syria is at a critical turning point, with his Office and other organizations documenting human rights violations and abuses for over fourteen years. Turk highlighted the opportunity for authorities to deliver on Syrians’ expectations, guided by the human rights of all Syrians, and stressed the importance of women participating fully in transitional institutions and decisions.
Globally, Turk identified a rise in transnational repression incidents since 2020, with examples of abductions, disappearances, and killings in mainland Southeast Asia. He urged all States to adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward extra-legal transfers, renditions, and abductions, and to ensure accountability for these violations, as well as respect for the principle of non-refoulement.