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Congo Rapes: At Least 121 Women Assaulted By Troops Last Month, Says U.N.

GENEVA (Reuters) - U.N. human rights investigators have confirmed that at least 121 women were raped by Congolese troops who attacked and looted villages in the lawless east last month, a United Nations spokesman said on Friday.

The mass rapes were reported to the team in interviews with victims, police and medical personnel, he said.

“(U.N. human rights staff) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has confirmed that large-scale rape, pillaging, and cruel and degrading treatment were committed in Nakiele, in South Kivu province between the 11th and 13th of June by troops of the armed forces,” spokesman Rupert Colville told a news briefing.

Referring to the interviews, he added: “According to their statements, the troops raped 121 women, stole 157 goats and looted other goods including some $90,000 in cash and gold.”

A spokesman for Congo’s government has said that Colonel Kifaru Niragiye may have been behind the rapes after he and around 100 men deserted from a training camp where they were due to be integrated into the army.

The U.N. refugee agency said on June 24 that up to 170 women had been raped — the largest reported mass rape in the turbulent central African country in nearly a year.

Colville noted that the number of rapes are often underestimated. “Because of course with rape you always have the issue of how many women are prepared to come forward and say it happened. The fact that they are giving a number means they are fairly sure this is a minimum number,” he said.

“More in-depth investigations will be undertaken to further verify these allegations and details and facts and to identify the perpetrators,” he said.

A second mission is planned to Nakiele in the coming days.

At U.N., Obama puts human rights, democracy at center of foreign policy.

UNITED NATIONS - President Obama outlined a leading role for the United States in promoting human rights and democracy around the world Thursday, laying out a new foreign policy initiative that his advisers said will guide his diplomacy in the years ahead.

In his second annual address to the U.N. General Assembly, Obama spoke more directly than he has previously about the importance of human rights and democracy in ensuring a stable world economy and global security. His words evoked those of his predecessor, George W. Bush, whose emphasis on promoting democracy once drew Obama’s criticism.

The speech marks a shift in emphasis for Obama, who early in his presidency appeared to play down the importance of human rights and democracy in foreign policy, focusing instead on the “mutual interests” of nations in promoting U.S. economic and national security goals. The administration’s attempts to promote human rights discreetly have been criticized as ineffective.

Obama’s democracy agenda, as one adviser called it, will seek to encourage economic and political reforms carried out from within countries, namely through civil society groups that the administration intends to strengthen.

The approach contrasts with the Bush administration’s “freedom agenda,” which went beyond supporting grass-roots efforts to include direct outside influence on oppressive governments through regime change resolutions, sharp rhetoric, and, in the case of Iraq, an invasion.

“Part of the price of our own freedom is standing up for the freedom of others,” Obama told the hundreds of delegates and audience members who filled the General Assembly hall for his remarks. “That belief will guide America’s leadership in this 21st century.”

Elliott Abrams, deputy national security adviser for human rights and democracy under Obama’s predecessor, praised the speech but questioned whether the administration would pressure important partners to address the issue.

“This was his best rhetoric yet on the subject, but according to the White House fact sheet they appear to believe they are doing all they need to do,” Abrams said. “That is unfortunate, because it means the gap between rhetoric and reality will only grow.” Abrams said the Obama administration has not stressed human rights “where it counts - in our bilateral relations.” Multilateral actions are much less important, he said, so “with Russia, China, Egypt, the pressure seems to be off, despite today’s rhetoric. And dictators can sense that very fast.”