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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

DRC: NGOs ask UN to address corporate dimension of country's conflict

NAIROBI, 27 October 2003 (IRIN) - A coalition of NGOs called on the UN Security Council on Monday to insist that member states launch immediate investigations into the involvement of multinational corporations accused of profiteering from war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) said recent years of war in the Congo had caused the deaths of at least three million people, the largest loss of civilian life since World War II.

According to the UN panel, the drive to control natural resources was a major motive for the war, and illicit economic exploitation continues through armed groups linked to neighbouring countries and corrupt government officials.

"The Security Council can no longer ignore clear evidence linking the exploitation of resources to the war in the Congo," the NGOs said in a statement. "It must insist that member states hold the companies and individuals involved to account, including companies based in western countries. Business must demonstrate its commitment to change the way it operates in conflict situations."

The Security Council is due to examine the fourth and final report of the UN Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth, which it established in June 2000.

"It is not just the Security Council but also the governments of member states that must live up to their responsibilities," the NGOs said. "They must conduct open and transparent investigations using the OECD [Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development] process or other judicial procedures to clarify the role that companies have played in the conflict in Congo."

The group of international and Congolese human rights, environmental and aid organisations includes Christian-Aid; Fatal Transactions; Friends of the Earth-US; Friends of the Earth-England, Wales and Northern Ireland; Global Witness; Human Rights Watch; International Human Rights Law Group; International Peace Information Service; IRC; OECD Watch; Oxfam International; Pax Christi Netherlands; Save the Children UK; 11.11.11; CENADEP platform of Congolese organisations; the Network of Human Rights Associations from South Kivu, or RADHOSKI.

Theme(s): (IRIN) Conflict, (IRIN) Economy

[ENDS]

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