Instability And Sexual Violence In The Democratic Republic Of Congo

EDM number 1618 in 2006-07, proposed by Diane Abbott on 05/06/2007.

That this House notes with concern the continuing instability within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) caused by violence perpetrated by both Congolese government troops and by various rebel militia; notes with distress the high incidence of rape and sexual violence occurring in the region which has led to some commentators calling the rapes `weapons of war'; observes that the Home Office is currently deporting women and children back to the DRC on the pretext that the country is now safe for returnees; believes that the risk of sexual violence and abuse at the hands of security forces and rebel militia that these women face is too high for them to be safely returned to their country; and calls on the UK Government to halt deportations to the DRC in order to protect the human rights of asylum seekers from that country.

This motion has been signed by a total of 51 MPs.