D. R. Congo

Sixteen non-State armed groups (NSAGs) and the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) are listed in the annexes of the SG’s 2024 annual report on CAAC for committing grave violations against children. In 2023, the deadliest year for children in the DRC since the establishment of the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM), the UN verified 3,764 grave violations against 2,838 children, representing a significant increase from 2022. Recruitment and use of children by NSAGs was the most prevalent grave violation, followed by killing and maiming, and rape and other forms of sexual violence. In September, the SG will report on MONUSCO, pursuant to SCR 2717 (2023). According to the SG’s June report on MONUSCO (S/2024/482), the UN verified 537 grave violations against 483 children between March and April 2024, including 402 cases of recruitment and use. These grave violations were attributed to 19 NSAGs, and three incidents of killing and maiming were attributed to Congolese security forces. The Security Council should:

• Demand that all parties uphold their obligations under IHL and IHRL, and call for all armed forces and groups to immediately cease recruiting, using, killing and maiming and abducting children, release those within their ranks, and engage with the UN to develop and implement concrete commitments to end and prevent grave violations against children; including action plans where relevant;
• Urge all parties to take immediate steps to end and prevent rape and other forms of sexual violence against children and ensure that survivors have access to comprehensive, gender-sensitive, and age-appropriate response and protection, and call on the Government to accelerate efforts to implement aspects of its 2012 action plan relating to sexual violence and the Joint Communique signed with the UN to fight sexual violence in conflict;
• Encourage the Government to continue its cooperation with the UN on screening and age verification to prevent the recruitment of children, call for age assessment to be implemented at the territorial level, and encourage continued efforts to hold perpetrators of grave violations accountable;
• Ensure that MONUSCO is adequately resourced to fully and effectively implement its child protection mandate, per SCR 2717 (2023), maintain adequate child protection capacity during MONUSCO’s transition, and subsequently increase child protection capacity in the UN Country Team, including capacity for monitoring and reporting on grave violations and for continuing to strengthen the capacities of Government Forces and other State actors to protect the rights of conflict-affected children; ensure drawdown timelines allow appropriate time for planning, resource allocation, and capacity building;
• Emphasize the need for regional security arrangements, including SAMIDRC, to fully comply with IHL and IHRL, and highlight the importance of coordinated technical support on child protection, pursuant to SCR 2746 (2024).

FRANCE IS THE SECURITY COUNCIL PENHOLDER ON DRC.

This information is based on Watchlist’s Children and Armed Conflict Monthly Update – September 2024.

Year listed: 2003
Action Plans signed: FARDC (the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo) – recruitment and use of children and sexual violence against children (October 2012) *Delisted in 2017 following compliance with Action Plan to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children. Action Plan on ending and preventing sexual violence against children under implementation. 
Sanctions Committee: Sanctions Committee concerning Democratic Republic of Congo (Current Chair: Niger)
Secretary-General’s reports on CAAC in DRC: 2022; 2020; 2018; 2014; 2010; 2008; 2007; 2006
Security Council Working Group conclusions on DRC: 2020; 2018; 2014; 2011; 2009; 2007; 2006
UN Mission: MONUSCO