Statement by the UK's Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley, at DRC's Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Thank you, Mr President,
We welcome recent legislation by the Democratic Republic of the Congo to advance human rights.
However, decades of progress risks being undone following the lifting of the death penalty moratorium.
The situation in the East remains grave with reports of horrific conflict-related sexual violence, and we encourage DRC's continued participation in the Luanda process.
We welcome commitments to tackling overcrowding in prisons. Further steps to improve detention conditions are vital, including for female inmates.
We look forward to working with DRC on these issues through its upcoming Human Rights Council membership.
We recommend that DRC:
Restore the moratorium on the death penalty.
Ensure any constitutional revisions protect and uphold fundamental human rights, civic freedoms and political pluralism.
Strengthen the implementation of legal frameworks seeking to end impunity for gender-based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence.
Thank you.
