UK Foreign Secretary comments on verdict in Minova mass rape case

LONDON, United-Kingdom, May 8, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Foreign Secretary William Hague comments on military court ruling in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on rape cases in Minova.

On Monday 5th May, a military court in Goma ruled on cases against 39 Congolese soldiers charged with rape and other grave crimes committed in Minova, in November 2012.

In response to the ruling, Foreign Secretary William Hague said:

“I welcome the efforts to prosecute the perpetrators of the mass rape in Minova, eastern DRC. However, despite reports of over 100 victims, only two soldiers were convicted of rape. I recognise the difficulties in prosecuting crimes of sexual violence in conflict situations and encourage the Congolese authorities to continue their efforts to seek out and prosecute the remaining perpetrators.

“Ending conflict-related sexual violence is of fundamental importance to international peace and security. We must all do more and I look forward to working with colleagues from the DRC and around the world to take the unparalleled opportunity to address this issue at the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict in London on 10-13 June.”