Committee: United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).
Country: Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) .
Delegate: Priyanka S. Kulkarni
School: D.A.V Public School, New Panvel.
Agenda: Inclusion of stateless person in the areas of conflict.
BRIEF:
A stateless person is the one who is not considered as a national by any state, under the
operation of its law. A stateless person can be a refugee, an internally displaced person, a war
victim also. UNHCR fosters the right to every person to acquire citizenship and nationality of
a country. But today, internal wars, disputes, conflicts, ethnic disparities, racial, social and
gender discrimination has led to a gradual increase in the number of migrants and refugees who
face issues in attaining citizenship and nationality of a country. Unless and until they’re not
extended the hands for inclusion, the operation of human rights and humanitarian policies in
the country stands questionable.
Democratic Republic of Congo, a country having enough potential to stand out as a quality
source of natural resources, is still facing the wrath of internal conflicts since mid 1990’s, when
the cannibalistic First Congolese War began to spread its roots.
BACKGROUND:
1. The origin of refugee crisis in DRC can be traced back to the First and Second
Congolese Wars whose repercussions are still faced in the eastern parts of the nation in
the form of violence due to ethnic disparities. Highlighting the important issues faced
by the refugees along with the inclusion issue becomes a mandatory aspect while
abiding with the mandate of the committee UNHCR.
2. The refugee camps continue to face hygiene related issues. In the areas of food
insecurity, there is no availability of proper food and drinking water. The condition of
Asylum seekers is still crippled. Children of dependent age group are devoid of basic
education and face acute malnutrition. Sexual violence by insurgent militias continues
to deteriorate the psychological and physical condition of women of all age groups. The
victims are not even extended required medical attention sometimes.
3. Mai-Mai Sheka, an indigenous insurgent group, has led a stream of violence by
attacking UN Peacekeepers and brutally exploiting the refugees.
4. Uganda led Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA),
led by Joseph Kony has recruited a number of child soldiers, where the children belong
to the refugee camps.
5. Therefore, looking at such a disheartening condition of the refugees, DRC feels that
along with inclusion of refugees, first they must be extended the hands of humanity and
rights. Because this is the only move which can provide them with a sense of
belongingness. DRC feels that this can only make refugees ready to cooperate and the
procedures of their inclusion within a country shall become a victorious approach.
PAST UN ACTION:
Considering the previous cases of war crimes UN had first undertaken a number of
peacekeeping projects in DRC viz;
1. The Human Rights Council had published a report 19/27 which encouraged the
establishment of National Human Rights Commission in DRC.
2. United Nations Security Council announced in their July 2003 resolution to place
arms embargo on rebel militias in North and South Kivu and Ituri provinces.
3. MONUC (United Nations Organisation Mission in DRC) was setup in DRC
following the 1991 Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement. MONUSC (United Nations
Organisation Stabilisation Mission in DRC) is one of the largest peacekeeping
missions in the world. It was aimed to protect civilians and address their issues which
were raised during the period of operation of MONUC.
4. International Criminal Court also played a vital role in analyzing the severity of war
crimes in the areas of conflict.
5. DRC feels that the resettlement program under UNHCR, which is advocating the
selection and transfer of refugees from one state (where they have sought protection) to
a third state is a significant stance on the Agenda discussed.
COUNTRY POLICIES:
1. Signing of a Tripartite Agreement between UNHCR/DRC with Tanzania in 2005,
with Burundi in 2009 and with Rwanda and Uganda in 2010 succeeded moves to assist
spontaneous returns of refugees with safer transport to prevent on-route tragedies.
2. Article 1-F and 33(2) of Refugee Convention and Humanitarian Protection
propounds exclusion of those refugees which are involved with rebel insurgent groups
(which are already accused of number of abuse cases).
3. Under the Asylum Instruction on Assessing Credibility and Refugee Status Act, if
any asylum seeker is found facing well founded fear of being persecuted on racial or
nationality based grounds by any individual/organisation in the country, is relevant to
acquire claim to live in that asylum.
4. Initiation of a Multi-Year Plan of Action to enhance resettlement of Congolese
refugees from Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania.
POSSILE SOLUTIONS:
1. Resettlement and enhancement of a larger number of Congolese refugees and
internally displaced persons shall serve as a visible signal of solidarity and may also
contribute to strengthen advocacy for mutual integration within the local inhabitants
of different ethnicity of the country.
2. Countries like United States of America, Belgium, Canada and Japan should try to
assist economically in the resettlement drive. Countries like India and Egypt which
have been helping DRC in the peacekeeping missions must also try to deploy
Experts and Advisors in order to help survivors and victims’ to cope up with scars
of scrutiny led by the insurgents and rebel groups.
3. DRC strongly feels that there must be a renewal in the policies of the Tripartite
Agreement signed between DRC, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda in order to open
newer grounds for discussions between the nations for planning newer strategies
for resettlement of refugees and to frame newer strategies and policies to achieve
mutual peace and integration.
4. DRC feels that the members of UNHCR should collectively advocate the ground
zero situations and conditions in the areas of conflict in order to come out with a
better solution towards the above discussed issues.
Therefore, DRC feels that this shall help a number of refugees, internally displaced persons
and migrants to achieve an identity and a deserved entitlement for being registered as a
citizen/national of a country and acquire a rightful stake over the human rights.
