Foreign Secretary comments on verdict in Minova mass rape case
8 May 2014 01:00 PM
Foreign Secretary William Hague comments on
military court ruling in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on rape cases in
Minova.
On
Monday 5th May, a military court in Goma ruled on cases against 39 Congolese
soldiers charged with rape and other grave crimes committed in Minova, in
November 2012.
In
response to the ruling, Foreign Secretary William Hague said:
I
welcome the efforts to prosecute the perpetrators of the mass rape in Minova,
eastern DRC. However, despite reports of over 100 victims, only two soldiers
were convicted of rape. I recognise the difficulties in prosecuting crimes of
sexual violence in conflict situations and encourage the Congolese authorities
to continue their efforts to seek out and prosecute the remaining
perpetrators.
Ending conflict-related sexual violence is of
fundamental importance to international peace and security. We must all do more
and I look forward to working with colleagues from the DRC and around the world
to take the unparalleled opportunity to address this issue at the Global Summit
to End Sexual Violence in Conflict in London on 10 to13 June.
Further information
Get
news and updates on the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict on
twitter @end_svc and facebook
Follow the Foreign Secretary on twitter @WilliamJHague
Follow the Foreign Office on twitter @foreignoffice
Follow the Foreign Office on facebook and Google+