A/HRC/24/33 4. Sexual violence remained a major human rights concern, in both its scope and its systematic nature, particularly in the provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu and Orientale. A large number of cases of rape were committed by members of the Congolese defence and security forces, as well as by armed groups. Incidents of sexual violence mainly occurred during attacks on villages alongside other human rights violations, such as killings, torture and abduction. Many armed groups continued to struggle for control of resource-rich territories, resulting in serious human rights violations on civilians, including mass rape. 5. Insecurity in many parts of eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo led to significant displacement, with a large number of Congolese fleeing to neighbouring countries for refuge. At least one million people have been displaced as a result of gross human rights violations and serious violations of international humanitarian law since May 2012. 6. Impunity remains widespread throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo, especially for individuals in positions of power or influence. Nevertheless, in 2012, the Joint Human Rights Office documented the conviction of more than 200 individuals for human rights violations committed by State agents and armed groups. Despite this progress, the criminal justice system remains structurally weak and generally lacks independence, particularly when dealing with cases against political opponents and members of civil society. 7. The presidential and legislative elections, held in November 2011, were marked by widespread human rights violations, including violations of the rights to life, to liberty and security of person and to physical integrity, and violations of the rights to freedom of expression, the press and peaceful assembly. 8. In March 2013, in response to the above-mentioned developments, the Security Council adopted resolution 2098 (2013), in which it provided the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) with a stronger mandate and more robust tools for the protection of civilians. Provisions for an intervention brigade with an offensive mandate and the designation of a special envoy for the Great Lakes region were among the main measures adopted by the Council in resolution 2098 (2013) to address the persistence of violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law by a multitude of armed groups, mostly in the conflict-stricken provinces of the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and to address the stalemate in establishing regional security. 9. Throughout the period under review, the Joint Human Rights Office continued to contribute to the implementation of several MONUSCO tools and coordination mechanisms for the protection of civilians, including the Joint Protection Teams, the Community Alert Networks and the Community Liaison Assistants. Such tools are intended to enable the mission to anticipate protection needs, develop community protection plans and mitigate serious threats to the local population. A. Extrajudicial killings and summary executions 1. Recommendations 10. Recommendations were made to the Government in the past regarding the responsibility to investigate, prosecute and punish all acts of extrajudicial killing and summary execution and to grant appropriate reparations to the families of the victims. 4 It 4 See CCPR/C/COD/CO/3, para. 10. 5