A/HRC/39/42 I. Introduction 1. In the present report, pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 36/30 on technical assistance and capacity-building for human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights provides an overview of the human rights situation and the activities of OHCHR carried out in the country through the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office between June 2017 and May 2018. 2. In the report, the High Commissioner emphasizes the key human rights developments, including in the context of the elections, assesses the progress made in the implementation of his recommendations and those made by the United Nations mechanisms for the protection of human rights, and submits recommendations for the attention of the Government. II. Principal human rights developments 3. The human rights situation continued to deteriorate throughout the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the reporting period. Overall, the number of human rights violations and abuses documented by the Joint Human Rights Office has increased by almost 20 per cent compared to the previous reporting period. More than 63 per cent of the violations were committed by State officials, primarily members of the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and officers of the Congolese national police. The continued increase in violations of civil and political rights and fundamental freedoms in the context of the elections, and also of violations related to the increased activism of militias and armed groups in the provinces in conflict, is particularly worrying. 4. As the new election date of December 2018 approaches, restrictions on civil liberties, intimidation and violence against political opponents, journalists and other media personnel and civil society activists, including human rights defenders, have been stepped up. Demonstrations organized by opposition political parties and civil society organizations, including in protest at the postponement of the elections and the failure to implement any measures to reduce political tensions, have routinely been banned by the authorities and brutally suppressed by the defence and security services. In the course of this action to break up demonstrations, many people have been killed and a number of others injured. The democratic space has thus been severely limited and the conditions are scarcely conducive to free, inclusive, peaceful and credible elections. 5. The proliferation of militias and armed groups and the increased activities of the latter have contributed to the increase in abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law in the provinces in conflict — in particular in North Kivu — and also to the increase in violations committed by the defence and security forces in the course of their operations against these groups. 6. The period was also marked by the continuation or recurrence of intercommunal violence, in particular in the provinces of Ituri, Tanganyika and Haut-Katanga, and also in the Kasaï provinces (Kasaï, Kasaï Central and Kasaï Oriental). The geographical spread of conflicts could be observed in particular in Maniema, where the activism of Mai-Mai groups and the disproportionate response by FARDC units led to serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. 7. Despite the limited legislative progress in the protection of human rights, there have been notable efforts to combat impunity, including through legislative steps taken during the previous reporting period. For example, judgments handed down on senior officials for war crimes and crimes against humanity are indicative of new legal possibilities offered by the harmonization of the country’s legislation with the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Another encouraging development is the establishment by the Government of a joint commission to investigate alleged human rights violations committed in connection with the demonstrations of 31 December 2017 and 21 January 2018. 2 GE.18-13336