A/HRC/30/33 42. The human rights liaison entity, established in 2009 and composed of national experts, UNJHRO and some international and local NGOs, is tasked with proposing the necessary guidance for the effective protection of human rights, ensuring the monitoring and implementation of the national plan for the promotion and protection of human rights and overseeing the drafting of initial and periodic reports on human rights. The human rights liaison entity has not been in operation since it was established although some members were appointed in 2010 and 20 12. There is a conflict of jurisdiction between the human rights liaison entity and some aspects of the National Human Rights Commission, in particular with regard to examination of issues giving rise to human rights violations and proposals for solutions, as well as evaluation of national activities in the human rights sphere. This situation could create competition between the two institutions, in particular with respect to funding. The same is true for the National Commission for Preparation of and Follo w-up to the Universal Periodic Review and the Interministerial Technical Committee, both of which are responsible for the submission of reports to the human rights mechanisms and for follow-up to their recommendations. Given that the National Commission ha s never been fully operational, its functions could be integrated into those of the Interministerial Technical Committee. 43. Technical assistance provided by Avocats sans Frontières, UNJHRO, Human Rights Watch and OSISA resulted in the adoption in 2011 o f a ministerial decree establishing a unit for the protection of human rights defenders. This unit has difficulty in operating due to lack of adequate resources. In addition, the absence of legislation on the protection of human rights defenders is a bar rier to their legal protection. C. Protection of civilians in armed conflict 44. The activities of armed groups in the east of the country are a major threat to the protection of civilians and have resulted in numerous human rights violations and large-scale displacements of populations. Armed groups seeking to extend their influence and their control to rich territories do not hesitate to attack civilian populations. In addition, in the context of operations against these armed groups, members of the Congolese defence and security forces sometimes commit violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. 1. Protection of civilians 45. The security of people and their possessions has remained a concern in conflict zones and in zones recovering from conflict. In response to these challenges, the international community has contributed to the implementation of mechanisms for the protection of civilians in the east of the country: GE.15-14279  UNJHRO, in collaboration with MONUSCO, established approxi mately 312 joint protection teams to prevent attacks on civilians in the east of the country between 2009 and 2014. These teams have drawn up plans for protection in different locations and have conducted 117,019 joint patrols;  Between 2013 and 2014, MONUSCO’s Civil Affairs Section and UNJHRO supported several communities in developing more than 49 community civilian protection plans. During this period, MONSUCO ’s Civil Affairs Section deployed 40 community liaison assistants throughout the communities concerned;  During the period in question, MONUSCO, Catholic Relief Services and Caritas provided more than 900 mobile telephones and restored high frequency radio 13/19