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African Commission on
Human and Peoples' Rights
Human Rights our
Collective Responsibility
01. The Commission notes that after the submission of the arguments on the merits of the
Communication by the Complainant, these were transmitted to the Respondent State.
02. The Commission notes, moreover, that the State party has not submitted its arguments on the merits
of the Communication despite the Secretariat's invitations to do so.
Accordingly, and in line with its practice, the Commission will decide on the sole basis of the evidence
submitted by the Complainant.
03.
Commission's Analysis on Merits
On the Alleged Violation of Article 5 of the African Charter, Article 4(1) of the Maputo Protocol,
Article 2 and 18(3) of the African Charter, Article 2 of the Maputo Protocol, Article 11 of the Maputo
Protocol and Article 14 of the African Charter
04. The Commission recalls the rights guaranteed by the Articles referred to by the Complainant,
respectively Article 5 of the African Charter on the prohibition of torture and all cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment, Article 4(1) of the Maputo Protocol on the right to personal
integrity, Articles 2 and 18(3) of the African Charter and Article 2 of the Maputo Protocol on the
prohibition of discrimination on the basis of gender, Article 11 of the Maputo Protocol on the obligation
to protect women from gender-based violence in armed conflict and Article 14 of the African Charter on
the right to property.
05. The Commission notes, in the light of the Complainant's submissions, that in its judgment of 17
November 2008, the Operational Military Tribunal (OMT) of North Kivu in the Respondent State not
only recognized and admitted the rape and theft of the radio and the $120 in savings suffered by the
Complainant, but also sentenced Sergeant Shombo Chance to life imprisonment with resignation from
his duties in the army and restitution of the savings and the stolen radio.
06. The Commission also notes, in the light of the information in its possession, that the above-mentioned
judgment has not been appealed against at the national level and that the decision has therefore become
res judicata.
07. Noting that the violations of the rights guaranteed in the above-mentioned Articles that are the subject
of this Communication have already been acknowledged by the Respondent State, which has begun to