A/HRC/30/32 52. The United Nations Joint Human Rights Office continued to assist the judicial authorities in the fight against impunity by providing, among others, technical and logistical support to bring investigators and magistrates to sites where human rights violations had been committed. During the reporting period, the Joint Office was able to support nine joint investigation team missions,9 conducted by judicial authorities in various parts of the country. 53. The United Nations Joint Human Rights Office assisted the judicial authorities through support to mobile court hearings, especially in the east, where the request from military justice was higher. For example, on 7 March 2015, the military garrison tribunal of Goma sitting in mobile court hearings in Kitchanga, Masisi territory, North Kivu, convicted 20 State agents for various crimes, including murder, sexual violence, armed banditry and illegal possession of weapons of war. MONUSCO supported the trial through logistic and financial support as well as in matters pertaining to the protection of victims, witnesses and plaintiffs. The Joint Office has also advocated with the Government for the abolition of the death penalty. Thus, in its work with the Government and civil society to implement a follow-up plan to the universal periodic review recommendations, it has suggested that legislation be drafted to abolish the death penalty. 54. In June and July 2014, in Goma, Bukavu, Lubumbashi, Bunia and Kisangani, the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office organized workshops for civil society organizations on reform proposals in the area of transitional justice, specifically for the reorganization of the judiciary to enable it to prosecute serious crimes under international law. Following those workshops, participants issued collective advocacy letters to their parliamentarians on the subject. In November, the Joint Office co-organized a workshop with the International Centre for Transitional Justice on strengthening the judicial framework and its ability to investigate and prosecute grave crimes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which analysed proposed reforms on transitional justice, including the possible establishment of specialized chambers to try international crimes. 55. The United Nations Joint Human Rights Office supported the transfer of 29 highrisk inmates, including Colonel 106, to more secure facilities to address persistent security concerns in prison. Indeed, 1,510 detainees escaped from prisons during the period under review. Systematic and mass escapes from prison represent a serious setback to the fight against impunity. The dilapidated prison infrastructure in some cases, combined with negligence, and sometimes corruption of prison guards, explain many of the escapes. F. Protection of civilians 56. The Human Rights Committee recommended that the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo take all the steps necessary to strengthen its capacity to protect civilians, especially women and children, in zones of armed conflict. It advised that relevant guidelines be made available to all members of the armed forces and that human rights training be made compulsory for them (see CCPR/C/COD/CO/3, para. 13). During the 2014 universal periodic review, the Government was urged to take the measures necessary to protect civilians in any situation of armed violence (see A/HRC/27/5, para. 134.163). 9 14 To South Kivu, Maniema, Equateur and Orientale Provinces.