A/HRC/8/6 page 10 Congo, and this increases their vulnerability. The Representative also learned that, even during displacements, acts of sexual violence and the forcible recruitment of children continued to occur. He also noted that, although the vast majority of displaced persons are living with host families, the aid is mainly sent to the displaced persons’ camps, whether informal or organized. The host communities and families receive comparatively little aid, although many of them are overwhelmed by the burden of supporting the new arrivals, and are often unable to do more. 35. The recent political developments which led to the statements of commitment signed at the Conference for Peace, Security and Development in North and South Kivu, held in Goma from 6 to 23 January 2008, as well as the November 2007 Nairobi communiqué, potentially offer genuine opportunities for stabilization, and, for the displaced persons, a possible return home. Nevertheless, the process of implementation of these agreements appears complex and difficult, the situation remains unstable and displacements continue following local clashes. In addition, a military approach to the remaining problems would run the risk of creating new humanitarian crises and large-scale displacements. 36. The Representative was able to observe during these different meetings that the authorities are well aware of the challenges posed by the large number of displaced persons in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the conditions in which they are living. However, he regrets that, while taking account of the limited resources of a country in the middle of a transition, more effort has not been made to provide them with aid and assistance, and that no legal framework has been devised to tackle these problems. The Representative notes that, above and beyond humanitarian assistance, the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) and humanitarian agencies have begun major protection-related activities. He noted in particular that, in keeping with its mandate to protect the civilian population, MONUC, through the deployment of troops, has in many cases facilitated or even enabled humanitarian access and stabilized the security situation, thus making an extremely important contribution to the protection of civilians. He encourages any actions which are aimed at broadening protection activities, on the operational level, beyond this coordination with the armed forces, while emphasizing the need to uphold the fundamental distinction between humanitarian action and military action at all times. 37. In order to provide assistance and protection to displaced persons in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with a view to a durable solution to the issue of displacement in the country - a precondition for peacebuilding - the Representative recommends a strategy focusing on the pursuit of political dialogue between the Government and the various armed groups and the other groups concerned. Support for host families, humanitarian assistance and protection activities for displaced persons as well as early recovery measures where returns are already under way or can be contemplated must be stepped up. He recommends the adoption of the measures needed to ensure that displaced persons take part in the local elections scheduled for 2008. He encourages the international community to continue to provide substantial and sustained support to the displaced persons assistance and protection programmes, and calls on the humanitarian agencies to broaden the support provided to the host communities which are overwhelmed by the presence of displaced persons.