DRC: Why Should We Care?

Contents

TOC o “1-3” h z u HYPERLINK l “_Toc377538824” A. Tell the story of the human toll or the potential for future atrocities refugees? IDPs? Death toll? genocide? sexual violence. PAGEREF _Toc377538824 h 1

HYPERLINK l “_Toc377538825” B) Review the findings of the genocide prevention task force and explain why the situation should be considered a matter of national interests. PAGEREF _Toc377538825 h 2

HYPERLINK l “_Toc377538826” C) Explain the origin and relevance of the R2P concept. PAGEREF _Toc377538826 h 3

A. Tell the story of the human toll or the potential for future atrocities refugees? IDPs? Death toll? genocide? sexual violence.The world’s attention has been drawn by the humanitarian situation in only a few selected places thus leaving some stones unturned in the campaign to provide sustained human rights across the globe. While much has debate has persisted in the airwaves concerning the willingness of the international community to contain the deplorable condition of human rights status in some countries, the United States has a massive duty to carry out a thorough campaign that will leave no stone unturned. In view of the neglected areas, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is of a special concern due to the centrality of the factors fueling the humanitarian condition in the Central African country. According to ICRtoP (1), the little talked-about situation in the DRC reveals that the crisis in the country has been going on for a long time than many would judge. The Coalition reports that over four million lives have been claimed in the conflict that seems to be manifested in a variety of atrocities not common in many other conflict prone areas. The range of atrocious activities that go on in the DRC has perhaps made the condition to evolve and get to difficult stage that has given a real headache for authorities there to control over the years. Some of the atrocities include sexual slavery, sexual violence and rape, multiple murders, forceful training of children as soldiers and massive displacements of people which have the state of the humanitarian condition wanting than in many other regions (Tearfund, 1).

Several thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) with little humanitarian aid have always fallen in the hands of a more brutal treatment by the roaming insurgents in the country. With little international highlights regarding the country, it has come to a dangerous stage where more serious crimes against humanity are being reported from the country. Abductions and sexual violence have evolved to become very dangerous mechanisms for the propagation of the ills perpetrated by the insurgency. Circulation of firearms and illegal mineral business has fueled a challenged to the authorities not only in the country but also in the neighboring regions which can be considered to be safer (Amnesty International, 1). ICRtoP reports the aggravated situation of the crisis which continually applies serious human rights violations as weapons of war, such as rape.

The future of the war crisis victims in the DRC remains unclear with the memories of the Rwandan Genocide still fresh in the region. To protect the plight of the people caught up in the crisis will not only protect the region to further political instability but will also assist in evading a humanitarian crisis such as the genocide that occurred in the neighboring Rwanda. There is a high chance of factors of the Rwandese Genocide playing a vital role in fueling the crisis in the DRC, pointing at a serious risk of similar events taking place in the country. The US will need to review its commitment in quelling the crisis in the region just as in any other region since the strategic position of the crisis in the East and Central Africa could severely damage the stability of the region. In controlling and sealing off supply of illegal firearms channeled into the hands of illegal gangs perpetrating violence as well as civilians for defense purposes, terrorist activities will be contained in the region(Amnesty International, 1).

B) Review the findings of the genocide prevention task force and explain why the situation should be considered a matter of national interests.

Recommendations of the US Institute of Peace-mandated Genocide Prevention Task Force (Standsabina, 1), outline that political willingness and leadership could be just what the world needs to avert possible genocide in the world. From the general recommendations of Task Force, political leadership from both the president of the United States and the US Congress can work together to formulate policy and avail funding for all processes needed to seed out genocide and its related atrocities. Through both internal and international cooperation, the country is in a position to mobilize financial and human resource from across the best informed perspective to deal with such threats. Early warning detection should act as a fine indicator for the appropriate policy formulation from the relevant intelligence departments. All measures for early prevention of a genocide including sanctions and embargoes on arms and empowering the media to avert violence would act in quelling possible genocide. Diplomatic involvement of the warring sides in a possible standoff fuelling a possible genocide would also be explored before applying military response in aggravated situations. Rallying for international cooperation would also make the plight of the affected communities solved amicably and in an inclusive manner (USIP, 1). From all these suggestions on genocide prevention, there is a lot of opportunity for the US community to employ alternatives in the long existing standoff.

C) Explain the origin and relevance of the R2P concept.R2P, also variously known as Responsibility to Protect is a resolution of the United Nations (UN) that has intentions of an international community intervention in a crisis likely to end up in a genocide or serious humanitarian condition. It has its origin from the question raised by the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan as to when a response from the UN in terms of intervention for a serious violation of human rights should be launched. As a response, the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty (ICISS) was formed and it delivered its first of 2001 giving the basic idea on R2P. The Secretary General’s question raised to this effect was in line with the past witnessed casualties in violent torn regions despite there being a provision of the UN against genocide since 1948. Despite this provision enforceable under Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, there was controversy surrounding states’ individual sovereignty which needs to be respected and free of any foreign interference.

The relevance of the R2P is the new mandate of the UN to acknowledge the protection of human life against protracted violence of a genocide nature, with more emphasis as sovereignty of a state. If such a provision was in existence, the violence observed in Rwanda and Bosnia culminating in genocides could not have occurred as the international community watched (ICRtoP, 1). Perhaps, this will spur motivation for the DRC civilians to get an opportunity to be protected by the international community.

Works Cited

Amnesty International, “Crisis in DRC Fueled by Accesses to Weapons,” 15 December 2008. Web. HYPERLINK “http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/crisis-drc-caused-access-weapons-20081215” http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/crisis-drc-caused-access-weapons-20081215 (accessed 3 May 2011)

International Coalition for the Responsibility to Protect (ICRtoP), “AN Introduction to Responsibility to Protect,” 2011. Web HYPERLINK “http://www.responsibilitytoprotect.org/index.php/about-rtop/learn-about-rtop (3” http://www.responsibilitytoprotect.org/index.php/about-rtop/learn-about-rtop (3 May 2011)

Standsabina, “Genocide Prevention Task Force Report,” 12 December 2008. Web. HYPERLINK “http://www.standnow.org/blog/genocide-prevention-task-force-report” http://www.standnow.org/blog/genocide-prevention-task-force-report (accessed 3 May 2011)

Tearfund, “Unraveling the Causes of DRC’s Conflicts,” 2 April 2009. Web. HYPERLINK “http://www.tearfund.org/News/DR+Congo+appeal/Background+to+DRC+crisis.htm” http://www.tearfund.org/News/DR+Congo+appeal/Background+to+DRC+crisis.htm (accessed 3 May 2011)

United States Institute of Peace (USIP) “Genocide Prevention Task Force,” 2008. Web. HYPERLINK “http://www.usip.org/genocide_taskforce/index.html” http://www.usip.org/genocide_taskforce/index.html (accessed 3 May 2011)