OPINION:There is an abject failure on the part of the international community to protect human rights defenders in Congo, writes ANDREW ANDERSON
THE KILLING last week of Floribert Chebeya, one of the most respected human rights defenders in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is not only a devastating loss for his family, many friends and the human rights movement in Congo and internationally. It is also bloody confirmation of the abject failure of the international community to protect human rights defenders in Congo.
In spite of huge international engagement with Congo, with more than 20,000 personnel deployed in the UN’s largest field mission, as well as billions in funding from the UN, EU and others, there has been little sustained focus on human rights and impunity. The murder of Chebeya is a signal that in spite of all the engagement, the perpetrators perceive no significant political costs in killing one of the most respected and well-connected human rights defenders in Africa. And why should they fear any consequences? The lessons of the murders of human rights defenders Pascal Kabungulu in 2005, Serge Maheshe in 2007 and Didace Namujimbo in 2008 is that any investigations by the Congolese authorities will be flawed, and those responsible will not be brought to justice. The international community will make some initial denunciations, but will not sustain focus on an inquiry or judicial process.
Front Line and other international NGOs sent missions to Congo to follow up on the murder of Kabungulu and press for effective action against the perpetrators. In spite of assurances, it became clear that officials from the international community in Kinshasa did not follow judicial proceedings seriously. Chebeya has reaped the fruit of that failure to understand the consequences of such neglect.
In UN Security Council Resolution 1925 of May 28th last, authorising the extension and renaming of the UN mission in Congo, the protection of civilians was set as a first priority. It proclaims: “Ensure the effective protection of civilians, including humanitarian personnel and human rights defenders, under imminent threat of physical violence, in particular, violence emanating from any of the parties engaged in the conflict.” And yet there has apparently been little understanding that the most important protection is action to bring those responsible for killings to justice.
When there have been most welcome moves by the International Criminal Court to take action against perpetrators of crimes against humanity in Ituri province in the northeast of the country, they have not been accompanied by measures to protect local human rights defenders.
This time around there must be serious efforts to bring those responsible to justice. The calls from the UN for an independent investigation and the offer of expert assistance must be pressed strongly. Given the huge international support for the Congolese government, it must be made clear that anything less will be unacceptable.
We must also reflect on the failures of the international community. Human rights defenders working at local and national level around the world are the most important actors in strengthening the protection of human rights in their countries. They often face threats, harassment, detention, torture or attempts on their lives because they are effective in trying to make the powerful more accountable. It is for this reason that the UN unanimously adopted a Declaration on Human Rights Defenders in 1998 identifying the need to protect the rights of those working for the rights of others. It is why the EU adopted Guidelines for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders under the Irish Presidency in 2004.
Last week our friend Chebeya was killed. He was one of the first to be invited to Front Line’s first Dublin Platform in 2001, because he was so respected for his work in the face of great personal danger. In April, our friend Bety Carino was killed in Mexico, a few weeks after she attended the fifth Dublin Platform. Last summer, our friend Natasha Estemirova was murdered in Chechnya. In 2009, Front Line documented 24 murders of human rights defenders around the world, and there were certainly more than that. We are not aware of any of the killers being brought to justice.
Front Line facilitated 124 temporary relocations of human rights defenders at immediate risk last year. We provided €350,000 in 154 grants for security measures for human rights defenders. We took up the cases of 396 individual human rights defenders at risk in 56 countries. Every time one of these activists is killed we ask ourselves whether we could have done more.
Chebeya was an old friend who was often involved in our efforts to try to help others. We are devastated at his loss. Is it too much to hope that, this time, justice might be done?
Andrew Anderson is deputy director of Front Line