The Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado, took the floor today in the Interactive Dialogue on the Democratic Republic of the Congo following the oral updates of the High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet and the team of international experts on Kasai, in the framework of the 49th session of the Human Rights Council.
Ambassador Cornado recognized the implementation by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo of some of the recommendations made by the team of international experts on the situation in Kasai, noting a decrease in violations and abuses of human rights, including in civic space. However, he expressed deep concern about the situation in armed conflicts-affected areas, in relation to alleged cases of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, namely sexual violence and arbitrary executions.
Ambassador Cornado recalled that Italy was directly affected by the situation in the northern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where, a year ago, Ambassador Luca Attanasio and Carabiniere Vittorio Iacovacci, together with the driver of the World Food Programme Mustapha Milambo, were killed in a criminal attack. “We continue to work – with the support of the Congolese authorities – in order to clarify the circumstances that led to this tragic event and to ensure justice”, the Permanent Representative of Italy said.
He also expressed concern over the recent sentencing of 51 persons to capital punishment, calling on the authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to maintain the moratorium on the use of death penalty, in line with the Italian commitment its universal abolition. The Congolese authorities were also urged to fight against impunity, to guarantee effective access to judicial remedies and to address the issue of transitional justice and reconciliation in the Kasai region.
Finally, Italy welcomed the efforts made at the regional level by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, together with neighboring countries, aiming at promoting shared and inclusive solutions for security and stability in the region.
