We welcome the holding of this special session.
All parties to the conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo— including the Rwandan-backed M23 fighters, the Rwandan and Congolese armies, and their allies — must prioritize the protection of civilians and facilitate access for humanitarian aid in the aftermath of the recent fighting in Goma.
Civilians face a grave risk of human rights violations amid this latest escalation. According to the UN, at least 3,000 people were killed in Goma.
