A/HRC/42/5 44. Burundi welcomed the adoption and implementation of the National Policy on Justice Sector Reform 2018–2020 to improve the administration of justice. 45. Cabo Verde was concerned about the persistence of conflict in the State, which resulted in violence and human rights violations, including sexual violence against women and children. 46. Canada was encouraged by progress following the presidential pardon granted to several hundred prisoners who had been arbitrarily detained. 47. Chad commended the significant progress achieved as part of the institutional and normative reform in the area of human rights. 48. Chile was concerned about the continuation of tribal violence which, through armed clashes between neighbouring villages, had led to the loss of hundreds of lives and to population displacement. 49. China commended the adoption of the National Strategic Development Plan 2017– 2050 and the efforts to eradicate poverty, increase employment, improve social security, combat gender-based violence and protect vulnerable groups. 50. The Congo noted with satisfaction the participatory approach adopted during the preparation of the national report and the progress made in the implementation of free primary education. 51. Costa Rica took note of the progress achieved, especially during the elections in December 2018, which had led to the peaceful transfer of power on 24 January 2019. 52. Replying to the questions from States, including one about child soldiers, the Minister for Human Rights said that, on 4 October 2012, the Democratic Republic of the Congo had signed a plan to combat the recruitment and use of children in times of war and peace, and other grave violations of children’s rights by its armed forces and security services, with a view to ending the recruitment of children by armed forces and groups. The results had not been long in coming: in October 2017, the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo had been removed from the United Nations blacklist for the recruitment of children. The recruitment of child soldiers in the country therefore remained the preserve of armed groups, but the Congolese Government was pursuing its efforts by continuing to push for the demobilization of children, including in armed groups. In 2017, for example, 1,031 children had been demobilized and separated from armed groups thanks to the combined efforts of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The children had been reintegrated into their respective families. 53. With regard to the fight against sexual violence, the Congolese military justice system had prosecuted police and military officers, including many officers who had committed sexual violence, war crimes or crimes against humanity. To date, nearly 4,000 officers of the Congolese National Police and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo had been convicted of those serious offences. Some influential political actors, including elected officials, had also been convicted of the same acts. Zero tolerance was therefore being shown in the fight against sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, with the resurgence of armed groups in the country a few months previously, sexual violence had been used as a weapon of war. Following the elections of 30 December 2018 and the inauguration of the new President of the Republic, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi, several armed groups had nevertheless decided to lay down their arms, which would undoubtedly have an impact on reducing sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 54. Concerning the protection of human rights defenders and journalists, the Protection Cell for Human Rights Defenders had been established. The Cell was responsible for ensuring their protection and listening to the problems they encountered in the conduct of their activities. If a human rights defender was arrested, the Cell was responsible not only for reporting the situation but also for communicating with all the relevant authorities so that the person concerned could be released. Those structures were not yet operational, owing to the particularly difficult situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. GE.19-11384 5