A/HRC/42/32 African countries. 4 However, there is no national strategy or law for the protection and assistance of internally displaced persons. 2. Action taken by the Joint Human Rights Office 37. The protection of civilians remains a central priority for the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Joint Office, including in the context of violence between communities or ethnic or religious groups.5 38. The Joint Office has continued its monitoring and investigation work in conflictaffected areas. In December 2018, it published a report on the deteriorating human rights situation in the territories of Masisi and Lubero (North Kivu) and the challenges to ensuring protection for civilians between January 2017 and October 2018.6 The report highlights the increase in the activities of armed groups in these territories since 2017 and contains recommendations for the protection of civilians. 39. In addition, the Joint Office participated in 42 joint assessment missions, 39 joint protection missions and 24 civilian protection missions in conflict areas, in some cases working with other components of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 40. In response to the violence in the territory of Djugu, in Ituri province, the Joint Office has been cooperating with the military justice system in joint judicial investigations since June 2018. On 14 and 15 July 2018, the Joint Office organized a protection mission to Chomia and Kasenyi to inform and raise awareness among victims and witnesses before the trial. A mobile court hearing was held in August 2018 with 72 alleged perpetrators and 422 victims and witnesses. 41. In the context of the outbreak of Ebola virus disease in North Kivu, the Joint Office contributed to a training session organized by United Nations police, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, for police officers involved in protecting response teams in Butembo. One hundred Congolese national police officers (including nine women) participated in this training, which covered concepts of human rights and international humanitarian law, civil liberties and basic principles on the use of force. 42. The Joint Office organized 41 capacity-building, awareness-raising and information exchange sessions for members of local protection committees and civil society organizations. A total of 1,661 men and 644 women benefited from this training in Beni, Bukavu, Butembo, Dungu, Goma, Kisangani, Kananga, Kalemie and Lubumbashi, with two sessions organized specifically for 40 women. 3. Human rights due diligence policy 43. During the reporting period, the secretariat responsible for human rights due diligence policy on United Nations support to non-United Nations security forces,7 placed under the authority of the Director of the Joint Human Rights Office, conducted 272 risk assessments that led to the authorization of United Nations support, often with conditions, 4 5 6 7 8 Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, DR Congo emergency, updated July 2019. Available at: https://www.unhcr.org/dr-congo-emergency.html. Security Council resolution 2463 (2019), para. 29 (i). Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Détérioration de la situation des droits de l’homme dans le Masisi et le Lubero (Nord-Kivu) et défis relatifs à la protection des civils entre janvier 2017 et octobre 2018 (Deterioration in the human rights situation in Masisi and Lubero (North Kivu), and challenges related to the protection of civilians between January 2017 and October 2018), December 2018. Available at: www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/CD/Rapport_Masisi_Lubero_19Dec2018.pdf. The human rights due diligence policy seeks to prevent the risk of units of the Congolese security forces to which the United Nations provides support (logistical, operational or training) committing violations of international humanitarian law, human rights or refugee law. See A/67/775-S/2013/110. GE.19-13875