TITLE:
The Role of the United Nations Security Council in the Protection of Civilians: An Application of Resolution 1265 (1999) in the Democratic Republic of Congo
AUTHORS:
Thomas Tcheshe Ntamwira, Egide Manirakiza
KEYWORDS:
Security Council, Protection of Civilians, Resolution 1265 (1999), Armed Conflict, Democratic Republic of Congo
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.11 No.8,
August
26,
2024
ABSTRACT: This article explores the role of the Security Council in the protection of civilians, focusing on the implementation of resolution 1265 (1999) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The objective of the study is to assess the effectiveness of Security Council resolutions for the protection of civilians in this context, based on two main criteria: the number of attacks against civilians and the number of violations human rights against them. The methodological approach adopted consists of a review of relevant Security Council resolutions, as well as United Nations and other reports from humanitarian organizations. The results highlight that the resolutions had varied effects on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They have helped reduce human rights violations, including killings, rapes and looting, while improving civilians’ access to humanitarian aid. However, these resolutions have not ended the armed conflict, with armed groups persisting in their human rights violations, especially in areas where MONUSCO is deployed. The study highlights some obstacles to the effective implementation of the resolutions; namely: the weakness of national security forces, corruption and lack of political will. To increase the impact of Security Council resolutions, it is crucial to overcome these obstacles. This also requires increased cooperation between involved actors, such as the United Nations, Member States, non-governmental organizations and Congolese authorities, with the aim of strengthening the protection of civilians in the Democratic Republic of Congo.