DEMARCHE ON U.S. DRAFT RESOLUTION ON "CONDEMNING

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001171 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR LLUM (IO/RHS) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC PHUM SOCI KWMN CG SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON U.S. DRAFT RESOLUTION ON "CONDEMNING THE USE OF RAPE AS AN INSTRUMENT OF STATE POLICY" REF: A. STATE 135255 ¶B. KINSHASA 948 ¶1. (U) The Charge delivered demarche as requested ref A to Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs/Acting Minister Alain Lubamba on October 1. (Note: Foreign Minister Antipas Mbusa has not yet returned from his trip to New York with President Joseph Kabila to attend the General Assembly. End note.) ¶2. (U) The Acting Minister expressed enthusiastic support for the proposed resolution. He stated that the issue of rape is a serious problem, especially in eastern DRC, and it is necessary to take action to bring it to an end. He stated that the GDRC is committed to international justice and the protection of human dignity and life. He promised to call the DRC representatives to the UN that very day to instruct them to work with the U.S. on this resolution. Lubamba did not commit the DRC to co-sponsorship but made clear his government would fully support our efforts. He also indicated that he understood the importance of fending off superfluous amendments and that we could count on DRC support in that area as well. ¶3. (U) As is standard practice in the DRC, the Charge met with the press at the conclusion of the meeting. He reiterated many of the points made in the demarche and emphasized the need for international cooperation in the effort to end the use of rape as an instrument of state policy. ¶4. (U) Comment. The subject of rape by military forces is an emotional subject in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women characterized the situation in the Kivu provinces as "the worst crisis I have encountered so far" during a July press conference in Kinshasa (ref B). Although Lubamba is only acting minister, we believe the Congolese mission to the UN will prove to be a willing partner -- and co-sponsor -- in the effort to get this resolution adopted. End comment. BROCK