A conservation organization, which includes the Duke of Sussex on its board, is looking into accusations of sexual assault and abuse committed by its security personnel in the Republic of the Congo.
African Parks, the organization responsible for overseeing 22 national parks and protected areas in 12 countries, has declared that their investigation into the matter is of utmost importance. They urge anyone who has information regarding any mistreatment to come forward and contact them.
After being the organization’s president for six years, Prince Harry, also known as the Duke of Sussex, is now a board member of the non-profit.
According to allegations initially reported by the Mail on Sunday, guards hired and compensated by the charity were involved in physically assaulting, sexually assaulting, and inflicting pain on Indigenous individuals in the rainforests of the Republic of the Congo.
The African Parks board and chief executive released a statement, stating their strict stance against abuse and their dedication to protecting the rights of local and Indigenous communities.
An inquiry was initiated after a member of the board, who remains unnamed, was notified by the charity Survival International about claims of mistreatment by guards. However, it was stated that Survival International did not cooperate with the investigation.
The message stated that there have been serious accusations of human rights violations by eco-guards towards the community living near Odzala-Kokoua national park in the Republic of Congo, which have been featured in the media.
“We promptly initiated an inquiry with the help of an outside legal team using the information we had at hand. We also urged Survival International to share any relevant facts they may have. It is regrettable that they have opted not to cooperate, despite multiple requests, and we still seek their cooperation.”
We urge anyone who is aware of any mistreatment to inform us or the authorities in Congo. They will aid in the investigation and ensure that those responsible for any wrongdoing are held accountable.
In 2000, the organization was established with the goal of safeguarding Africa’s national parks and promoting conservation efforts for wildlife globally. It oversees the management of over 20 million hectares of protected land.
According to Fiore Longo, who leads Survival International’s conservation campaign, the news that abuse cases have occurred frequently in the region over the years does not come as a shock. She made this statement to the PA news agency.
She stated that the establishment of protected areas during colonial times resulted in the displacement of many local people. However, the situation worsened around 2010 when African Parks assumed control. The locals reported an increase in violence, as the park rangers would physically harm them whenever they attempted to enter the forest – which is their home – to gather medicinal plants, hunt, and provide for their families.
Longo stated that her coworkers had informed her of incidents where women in the area were sexually assaulted, men had their heads forcibly submerged in bodies of water, and individuals were subjected to burning and whipping with hot wax.
In response to the accusation that Survival International was not cooperating with the African Parks investigation, she explained that Survival International is responsible for employing the rangers and managing the parks. Therefore, they had the resources to conduct their own investigation. It is not Survival International’s responsibility to provide them with details, as it is their responsibility to investigate any problems that are raised.
Since 2013, Longo stated that Survival International has been addressing these concerns and that the reported mistreatment of the local community is not unknown.
Source: theguardian.com
