The Role Of The United Nations In Protection Of Human Rights In Conflict Situations A Case Study Of Democratic Republic Of Congo

ABSTRACT

In my thesis, I examine and describe the United Nation's legal role in protection of Human rights in conflict situations. The Democratic Republic of Congo is selected and lessons in the study present among others a history of the nation, pmticularly with regard to the state of respect and protection of human rights. To point out the human rights violations. To give evidence of the strategies taken by the United Nations organisation in respect of protection of human rights given the threats posed by various human rights violations.

The research paper focuses on the role of the United Nations organisation regarding protection of human rights on the international level that is narrowed down specifically to that of the specific UN missions involved in the areas of conflict which in this case is the Democratic Republic of Congo, the country selected for this study. In the introduction, the structure of the United Nations, provisions regulating the organisation and specifically with regard to human rights is discussed. Similarly the United Nations missions involved in human right protection and those agencies that are involved in human rights protection activities in Democratic Republic of Congo are described. An account of a background of Democratic Republic of Congo is given to shed light on the circumstances regarding the conflicts in the nation. The United Nation has been involved in protection of human rights in the Nation however it faced challenges in the struggle to protect and promote human rights in the nation. The thesis specifically studies the effectiveness of the strategies employed amid the various human rights violations, in the struggle to protect human rights. The thesis in examining the effectiveness pays regard to the unique character of the conflict situation in Democratic Republic of Congo. The thesis describes the unique character of the DRC conflict with reasons. Recommendations to the unique character of  challenges faced by the UN in its bid to protect and promote human rights in this pmticular

country is discussed.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ............................................................................................... ii

APPROVAL .......................................................................................... iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .......................................................................................... iv

ABSTRACT ........................................................................................... v

TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................... vi

LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................... viii

RATIONALE ......................................................................................... ix

CHAPTER ONE ......................................................................................... I

THE UNITED NATIONS WITH REGARD TO HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION .................. I

1.1 THE UNITED NATIONS ......................................................................................... 2

1.2 THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ................................................ 2

1.3 WHAT ARE HUMAN RIGHTS? ............................................................................................ 4

1.4 HOW ARE HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTED ........................................................................ 5

CONCLUSION .......................................................................................... 8

CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................. 9

THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE DEMOCRATIC ........................................... 9

REPUBLIC OF CONGO .............................................................................................. 9

2.2 The Background of the Democratic Republic of Congo .......................................................... 9

2.2 THE SITUATION IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO ........................................ I 0

2.2.1 The War ................................................................................................ 10

2.3 The Human Rights Violations in the Democratic Republic of Congo ................................... 14

2.3.1 The independence of the judiciary ................................................................................ 15

2.3.2 The rights of Children ................................................................................................ 15

2.3.3 _The Rights ofWomen ................................................................................................ !6

2.3.3.1 Sexual Violence ................................................................................................. 17

2.3.4 Religious Freedom ................................................................................................ 23

2.3.5 Freedom of movement ............................................................................................. 23

2.3.6 Freedom of assembly and association ........................................................................ 24

2.3.7 Democracy .................................................................................................................... 24

2.3.8 Right to life ..................................................................................................................... 25

CHAPTER THREE ...................................................................................................................... 27

UNITED NATIONS INVOLVEMENT IN DRC ......................................................................... 27

3.1 AGENCIES ..................................................................................................................... 27

3.Ll The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights ................................................... 27

CONCLUSION ...................................................................................................................... 34

3.2 CHALLENGES FACED BY UN MISSIONS ....................................................................... 35

3.2.1 Presence of foreign actors .................................................................................................... 35

3.2.2 Poor conduct of government security agencies and UN personneL .................................... 35

3.2.3 Lack of control over the natural resources ........................................................................... 36

3.3.3 Inadequacies in funding ....................................................................................................... 36

3.3.4 Changing nature of Conflict.. ............................................................................................... 37

3.3.5 Children involved in anned conflict .................................................................................... 37

CHAPTER FOUR ..................................................................................................................... 38

RECOMMENDATIONS TO CHALLENGES FACING UN MISSIONS IN DRC ................... 38

4.1 Commitment to Peace Agreements ......................................................................................... 39

4.2 Obtaining control of the country's natural resources .............................................................. 40

4.3 Conduct of UN peacekeepers .................................................................................................. 41

4.4 Setting up effective sanctions ................................................................................................. 42

4.5 Increasing UN troops .............................................................................................................. 43

4.6 Rights of the Child .................................................................................................................. 44

CONCLUSIONS: .................................................................................................................. ,. 44

BIBLIOGRAPHY: .................................................................................................................... 46