A/HRC/27/42
among other things, to the planning and organization of the deployment of Joint Protection
Teams, which are interdisciplinary missions comprised of various MONUSCO
components. They aim at identifying protection threats, especially those linked to armed
conflict, taking measures to mitigate such threats, recommending steps to MONUSCO
peacekeeping military contingents and their decision-making bodies on civilian protection
issues, and seeking accountability for violations — including as a deterrent to future threats.
More than 50 such missions took place during the reporting period, in North Kivu, South
Kivu and Orientale provinces. However, UNJHRO has been facing various constraints in
that context, particularly lack of access to the most insecure areas.
22.
During the reporting period, UNJHRO and other MONUSCO components took
action to strengthen military and civilian cooperation during the planning and in the
conduct of military operations, with the goal of ensuring the protection of civilians during
such operations. To this effect, several civil/military forums were set up to work jointly
towards the common objective of reducing threats against the civilian population, with an
emphasis on early warning and rapid response functions in areas affected by the conflict.
23.
UNJHRO continued to provide support for the effective implementation of the
human rights due diligence policy on United Nations support to non-United Nations
security forces, which is instrumental in protecting civilians. The policy indeed requires
that all United Nations assistance to security forces be conditioned upon respect for human
rights, international humanitarian law, and refugee law. In some cases, the implementation
of the policy has led to improvements in the behaviour of FARDC troops and has resulted
in a generally safer environment for civilians.
24.
On several occasions, however, MONUSCO has intervened to remind the FARDC
hierarchy that support would be withdrawn from specific units suspected of committing
human rights violations should violations continue to be perpetrated and mitigating
measures not be taken. Whilst in the short term the policy aims at putting an end to human
rights violations, in the longer term it seeks to ensure the accountability of perpetrators and
capacity-building of the security forces in matters pertaining to human rights promotion and
protection.
IV.
A.
Fight against impunity
Main developments
25.
During the reporting period, some progress continued to be observed in the fight
against impunity, more specifically in the prosecution of FARDC and PNC elements,
particularly of lower ranks, for acts constituting human rights violations.
26.
According to information available to UNJHRO, from June 2013 to April 2014,
175 State and non-State actors were convicted for acts constituting human rights violations.
This number included 136 State agents, including 89 FARDC soldiers (comprising
11 senior officers), 44 PNC agents, and two elements of the National Intelligence Agency.
The highest number of convictions was for rape, while the second most common conviction
was for homicide. Only two individuals were convicted under torture charges during that
period.
9
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