A/HRC/42/32 2. Other national mechanisms 79. On 23 March 2019, a standing committee on human rights was established within the National Assembly following sustained advocacy conducted at various levels by the Joint Office in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission. The High Commissioner hopes that this committee will contribute to the monitoring of government policy and to the allocation of the resources necessary for the protection and promotion of human rights. IV. Conclusions and recommendations A. Conclusions 80. During the reporting period, the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was marked by increased encroachment on civil liberties during the electoral and post-electoral periods, followed by a partial opening up of democratic space. However, the violent suppression of peaceful demonstrations and the use of threats and intimidation against human rights defenders and journalists continued. 81. The activities of armed groups and the State’s response also continued to engender serious human rights violations in conflict areas, including a worrying number of incidents of sexual violence. 82. It is essential to support the efforts to combat impunity observed during the reporting period, to encourage a greater opening up of democratic space and to strengthen the capacity of public officials and national mechanisms for the protection and promotion of human rights. B. Recommendations 83. The High Commissioner recommends that the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo should: (a) Release immediately all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience who remain in detention, and guarantee the protection of the rights and freedoms of all persons, including political opponents, journalists, human rights defenders and other civil society actors; (b) Enact without delay the law establishing modalities for ensuring the freedom to demonstrate in accordance with the Constitution and the international obligations of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (c) Ensure that the bill on the protection and accountability of human rights defenders and the bill on the general provisions applicable to non-profit associations and public service institutions fully guarantee the rights of all persons to the protection and promotion of human rights and do not infringe the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association; (d) Ensure that the use of force by State agents, including in the context of law enforcement operations and military operations against armed groups and militias, strictly complies with the rules of international human rights law and international humanitarian law; (e) Ensure that all detainees enjoy all fundamental legal safeguards, and take the necessary measures to ensure that conditions of detention in all places of deprivation of liberty for men, women and juveniles are in conformity with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules) and the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules); 14 GE.19-13875