A/HRC/22/17 62. OHCHR worked to enhance the implementation of Security Council mandates for the protection of civilians. It worked closely with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations on a review of joint protection teams and related protection of civilians’ mechanisms established by the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to gather lessons to inform possible replication in other mission settings. Human rights components have been central actors in designing, reviewing and implementing strategies for the protection of civilians. In addressing the Human Rights Council at its twentieth session, I urged it to continue to include explicit provisions on accountability and civilian protection. 63. OHCHR supported the implementation of the human rights due diligence policy for support of the United Nations to non-United Nations security forces, including by identifying and sharing best practices and lessons learned. United Nations entities and field presences made significant progress in implementing the policy. States receiving support also benefited from the policy, using it as an opportunity to improve the behaviour of security forces. For example, the policy was identified as a key element in the planning of military operations in northern Mali. 64. In November 2012, the Secretary-General released a landmark report on the action of the United Nations in the final months of the war in Sri Lanka in 2009 in relation to its humanitarian and protection mandate.14 The report concludes that the United Nations system failed to meet its responsibilities, highlighting the role played by the Secretariat, the agencies and programmes, as well as the Security Council and Human Rights Council. The initiative of the Secretary-General is remarkable and the findings and recommendations of the review should allow the whole system to be more responsible, transparent and accountable. 65. Criminal or social violence and organized crime are increasingly affecting the rights of entire populations. The casualties due to violent crime now equal or exceed casualties in conflicts in some countries. Governments sometimes rely on counter measures leading to violations, such as excessive use of pretrial detention, lowering the age of criminal responsibility, and the death penalty. OHCHR worked with MERCOSUR on a tool on the use and administration of information on violence for the design of security policies, and with the Central American Integration System on a forum on institutional strengthening at its Summit on Security in June. In Cambodia, Guatemala, Libya, Papua New Guinea and Tunisia, OHCHR also worked on such issues as juvenile justice, legislation, penitentiary and security sector reform, and security legislation or training for relevant officials. 2. Humanitarian action 66. OHCHR strengthened its engagement in humanitarian action at the global and field levels with a view to ensuring free, active and meaningful participation of affected populations as rights-holders instead of beneficiaries of charity. 67. Globally, OHCHR engaged in humanitarian mechanisms and processes, in particular in the Inter-Agency Standing Committee. OHCHR contributed to humanitarian reform efforts through the Committee’s transformative agenda to strengthen the integration of human rights into humanitarian leadership and coordination, and to place human rights at the centre of efforts to ensure accountability to affected populations. OHCHR participated in the visioning process of the global Protection Cluster Working Group, which culminated in the adoption of a strategic framework for 2012-2014 with a strong human rights focus. It continued to provide technical expertise and support on the development and delivery of 14 14 www.un.org/News/dh/infocus/Sri_Lanka/The_Internal_Review_Panel_report_on_Sri_Lanka.pdf.