A/HRC/30/32 I. Introduction 1. Prepared pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 27/27 on technical assistance and capacity-building for human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the present report provides an overview of the situation of human rights and the activities of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in the country through the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office between June 2014 and May 2015. 2. The report highlights major human rights developments and focuses on issues relating to fundamental freedoms1 and protection of human rights defenders, journalists and political opponents; sexual violence; extrajudicial killings and summary executions; torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment; the fight against impunity; and protection of civilians. In relation to these issues, the report assesses progress made by the Government in implementing the recommendations of OHCHR and other United Nations human rights mechanisms. II. Main human rights developments 3. The Government made considerable efforts to advance the human rights situation during the reporting period. In particular, the appointment of the members of the National Human Rights Commission on 1 April 2015 is to be welcomed, as is the adoption, on 29 October 2014, of the action plan of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo — FARDC) on fighting sexual violence. Progress was also registered in the fight against impunity, notably with the conclusion of several emblematic trials, including those of two former FARDC officers who were on the list of five senior army officers handed over to the President, Joseph Kabila, in May 2009 by a delegation of the Security Council. These senior officers were accused of committing serious crimes, including rape and other forms of sexual violence. 4. The human rights situation remains, however, of serious concern throughout the country. The conflict-stricken provinces of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, namely Orientale, North Kivu, South Kivu and North Katanga, continued to register the highest number of human rights violations and abuses, perpetrated by elements of over 30 armed groups, as well as by FARDC soldiers in the context of military operations against some of those groups. Reprisals for real or perceived collaboration of the population with other armed groups or with security and defence forces, or grievances along ethnic lines, were often motives for the attacks. If considered separately among other actors, FARDC elements have been the main perpetrators of human rights violations for most of the reporting period, with the Congolese national police overtaking them for the months of January, February and March 2015. 5. Increasing restrictions on the political space and violations of the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly were mainly registered in the western provinces, particularly in Kinshasa. Agents of the Congolese national police and FARDC soldiers (including the Republican Guard) have used excessive force and lethal weapons to restrict those rights and freedoms during demonstrations and political rallies. The arbitrary arrest and detention, sometimes incommunicado, of demonstrators also raised due process concerns. 1 4 Mainly the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.