In an urgent call to action, United Nations special rapporteurs have urged all parties involved in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to ensure that deceased bodies are treated with respect and dignity, alongside proper documentation before burial. This plea comes amid reports indicating the mass burial of over 2000 bodies without adequately documenting the identities or circumstances surrounding their deaths. This has raised significant concerns around dignity, potential unlawful killings, and extrajudicial executions.
The human rights experts underscored the importance of dignity, stating that it persists even in death. They emphasized that families have a fundamental right to access information regarding the causes and circumstances of a loved one’s death. They noted that proper forensic examination and documentation are critical to determining causes of death and ensuring that those responsible for any unlawful actions are held accountable. Otherwise, the unrecorded bodies risk being categorized as missing persons, thus violating victims’ and their families’ rights to truth, justice, and reparations. This proper identification could also facilitate effective investigations and accountability concerning international crimes and human rights violations (OHCHR).
Despite a February 4th decision by the M23 group declaring a unilateral ceasefire for humanitarian reasons, the conflict has exacerbated a humanitarian crisis in the region. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported nearly 3000 bodies accumulated in the city of Goma, with 939 confirmed intrahospital deaths awaiting burial as of February 11. Efforts have been underway, with teams from the DRC Red Cross working diligently to respectfully recover and inter the dead and to prevent the spread of diseases from mass gravesites (ICRC).
In the wake of escalating violence, particularly after the capture of Bukavu by M23 fighters on February 17, Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, voiced concerns over the “sharply deteriorating” human rights conditions in eastern DRC. The UN experts reiterated the imperative nature of aligning body management and burial with international humanitarian law, promoting health protection, and preserving cultural and religious practices (JURIST).