Contact: 
Richard O’Brien (703) 528-1002

               
info@improvetheworld.org

The Center for the
Prevention of Genocide endorses Refugees International and the

International Crisis Group’s Recommendations for an Expanded MONUC Mandate

Arlington, VA – An improved MONUC
(United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) mandate
will directly contribute to the protection of civilians and reduce
casualties in a war that has already caused 3 million deaths since 1998. A
weak or incomplete mandate can lead to an ineffectual impact on the ground
by UN forces sent to protect Congolese civilians in Ituri. The Center for
the Prevention of Genocide endorses the following recommendations to
strengthen the mandate:

1. The mandate should state explicitly that MONUC
   protect civilians under imminent threat.
2. The mandate should make provisions that authorize
   military field commanders to create temporary safe zones in the field
   where hotspots arise or are expected to arise to prevent further violence
   and reprisal killings (CPG).
3. The mandate should ensure clear corridors for the
   safe passage of humanitarian aid to civilians and internally displaced
   persons in jeopardy (ICG/RI).
4. MONUC should deploy both task forces to protect
   civilians and carry out disarmament, demobilization, repatriation,
   resettlement and reintegration (“DR”) programs simultaneously. This should
   be carried out as quickly as possible in the eastern DRC (ICG/RI) and the
   mission should include a provision that provides flexibility to expand
   operations to danger zones in the North and South Kivus.
5. Member Nations should ensure that the mandate be
   supported by sufficient combat forces that are trained, equipped, and
   configured to enforce it (RI).
6. MONUC should deploy to Ituri and have an unambiguous
   mandate to ensure stability. It should be proportionate, well trained, and
   equipped to enforce that mandate (RI).

1.       
The US
agreed to an increase in the ceiling of personnel numbers for the UN mission
from 8,700 to 10,800 and to support a tougher mandate (Guardian Unlimited
7/10/03).

Acronyms

CPG: Center for
the Prevention of Genocide

“DR”: Disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, resettlement and
reintegration program

ICG: International Crisis Group

RI: Refugees International

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