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November 17, 2008 Feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Ban Ki-moon Secretary-General of the United Nations The International Council of the Secular Franciscan Order (SFO), meeting in Dobogoko, Hungary for its General Chapter, wishes to express its strong opposition to the situation that the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are currently experiencing. The Secular Franciscan Order, an organization of over 400,000 members in 110 nations across the world, deplores the fact that the Democratic Republic of the Congo has relapsed into grave human rights violations and humanitarian chaos. It is gravely concerned by the suffering and the desperate situation of thousands of civilians, including women and children, who have been uprooted by the current conflicts and the lack of effective action of the UN peacekeeping forces. Therefore, the Secular Franciscan Order urges the UN Secretary-General to take the following immediate actions: Urgently reinforce the mandate of the MONUC (Mission de l’Organisation des Nations Unies en République démocratique du Congo), especially the human rights component, by making effective Resolution 1843 of the Security Council announcing the increase of troops and the strength of its police unit in order to ensure the safety and surety of the internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and effectively protect civilians; As stated by Resolution A/HRC/S-8/L.2/Rev.2 of the Human Rights Council Special Session on the human rights situation in East DRC, address the “dire security and humanitarian situation” , “seriously address the root causes of the conflict, including illicit exploitation of the natural resources and the establishment of militia” , contribute to the “promotion of peace and stability in the DRC, and assist the government in the rehabilitation and economic reconstruction of the country” ; Urge the government of the DRC and all the involved parties as well as their allies to respect previous peace agreements (Nairobi 2007 and Goma 2008), and enter into new ones where necessary, to enable security and stability as well as future development and growth in the DRC; Obtain secure and safe corridors within the DRC so that humanitarian relief organizations can be provided with effective access to vulnerable populations; and Integrate a human rights approach to the peace process that respects the dignity of all people within the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The General Chapter of the SFO has already expressed its solidarity with the brothers and sisters of the DRC and, in conformity with its own spirituality, has exhorted them to be instruments of peace, reconciliation and mercy towards those who are experiencing great sufferings at this time. The Chapter now urges the United Nations to take stronger steps to redress the human rights violations and the humanitarian catastrophe being experienced by the people of the DRC. Encarnación del Pozo General Minister, Secular Franciscan Order A/HRC/S-8/L.2/Rev.2, § 8 in fine. Idem, § 9 a). Idem, § 9 b).

November 17, 2008
Feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General of the United Nations

The International Council of the Secular Franciscan Order (SFO), meeting in Dobogoko, Hungary for its General Chapter, wishes to express its strong opposition to the situation that the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are currently experiencing.

The Secular Franciscan Order, an organization of over 400,000 members in 110 nations across the world, deplores the fact that the Democratic Republic of the Congo has relapsed into grave human rights violations and humanitarian chaos. It is gravely concerned by the suffering and the desperate situation of thousands of civilians, including women and children, who have been uprooted by the current conflicts and the lack of effective action of the UN peacekeeping forces. Therefore, the Secular Franciscan Order urges the UN Secretary-General to take the following immediate actions:

Urgently reinforce the mandate of the MONUC (Mission de l’Organisation des Nations Unies en République démocratique du Congo), especially the human rights component, by making effective Resolution 1843 of the Security Council announcing the increase of troops and the strength of its police unit in order to ensure the safety and surety of the internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and effectively protect civilians;

As stated by Resolution A/HRC/S-8/L.2/Rev.2 of the Human Rights Council Special Session on the human rights situation in East DRC, address the “dire security and humanitarian situation” , “seriously address the root causes of the conflict, including illicit exploitation of the natural resources and the establishment of militia” , contribute to the “promotion of peace and stability in the DRC, and assist the government in the rehabilitation and economic reconstruction of the country” ;

Urge the government of the DRC and all the involved parties as well as their allies to respect previous peace agreements (Nairobi 2007 and Goma 2008), and enter into new ones where necessary, to enable security and stability as well as future development and growth in the DRC;

Obtain secure and safe corridors within the DRC so that humanitarian relief organizations can be provided with effective access to vulnerable populations; and

Integrate a human rights approach to the peace process that respects the dignity of all people within the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The General Chapter of the SFO has already expressed its solidarity with the brothers and sisters of the DRC and, in conformity with its own spirituality, has exhorted them to be instruments of peace, reconciliation and mercy towards those who are experiencing great sufferings at this time. The Chapter now urges the United Nations to take stronger steps to redress the human rights violations and the humanitarian catastrophe being experienced by the people of the DRC.

Encarnación del Pozo
General Minister, Secular Franciscan Order

A/HRC/S-8/L.2/Rev.2, § 8 in fine.

Idem, § 9 a).

Idem, § 9 b).