A/HRC/13/56 Commissioner for Human Rights and the Human Rights Section of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, referred to as the entité de liaison des droits de l’homme, Expressing its appreciation for the role taken by the international community, in particular by the African Union, the Southern African Development Community, the Economic Community of Central African States and the European Union, in enhancing the rule of law and improving the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Taking into consideration the fact that the presence of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and that of the Human Rights Section of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been merged with a view to their achieving more efficiency in their work on the situation of human rights in the country, Expressing concern over the current human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and calling upon the Government to respect human rights law and international humanitarian law, Considering the existence of a national programme for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the willingness of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to implement it, Reaffirming that States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, as reaffirmed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and in accordance with the International Covenants on Human Rights and other applicable human rights instruments, 1. Takes note of the initiatives implemented by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular the entité de liaison des droits de l’homme, the national agency to combat violence against women and girls, and the organization of the Second National Conference on Human Rights and the Rule of Law in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and calls on the Government to accelerate the establishment of the independent national human rights institution in accordance with the Paris Principles; 2. Calls upon the Democratic Republic of the Congo to ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights law and international humanitarian law, including by providing access to justice and remedy to the victims of the violations of the human rights; 3. Requests the Democratic Republic of the Congo to continue to ensure protection of journalists and human rights defenders in the discharge of their duties and in conformity with the relevant provisions of national law consistent with international law, and with the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders to fight against sexual violence and to prosecute the perpetrators of serious human rights violations, in the army and the national police force, within the framework of the policy of zero tolerance; 4. Welcomes, being appalled by the continuing incidence of sexual and genderbased violence, the announcement by the Government of Democratic Republic of the Congo of a zero tolerance policy and calls upon the Government to take concrete steps towards its full implementation; 5. Encourages the Democratic Republic of the Congo to pursue its reforms in the framework of consolidating peace and national reconciliation as well as the general reform of justice, the army, security and the national police force, and welcomes the determination of the Democratic Republic of the Congo with respect to continuing its cooperation with the special procedures of the Human Rights Council; 60