A/HRC/45/49 2. Action taken by the Joint Human Rights Office 54. The Joint Office has continued to support the civilian and military justice systems in their endeavours to end impunity by providing assistance for the investigation and prosecution of human rights violations and abuses. Between June 2019 and May 2020, the Joint Office supported 10 joint investigation missions and 11 mobile court sessions throughout the country. The Office also organized 24 protection missions to provide protection and legal assistance to 1,044 victims and witnesses. 55. In conjunction with the Joint Office, the technical assistance team, whose mandate was renewed by the Human Rights Council, continued to support the judicial authorities in the conduct of investigations into human rights violations and abuses in Kasai Central Province. During the reporting period, three joint missions were conducted: one to Tshisuku in June 2019, which resulted in the exhumation of victims’ bodies, and two to Kananga, in February and March 2020, to support the judicial authorities in their investigations into the summary and extrajudicial executions of civilians that took place in the commune of Nganza between March and April 2017, during which 13 alleged mass grave sites were identified. Technical assistance missions to Mai-Ndombe Province have been suspended owing to COVID-19 restrictions. 56. In August 2019, as part of a transitional justice project implemented since March 2019 in the Kasai Central region in collaboration with other partners, the Joint Office conducted public consultations on justice needs, reparations and the prevention of new conflicts. The Joint Office is supporting the provincial authorities in the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission in accordance with the recommendations resulting from these consultations. In addition, in collaboration with other partners, since November 2019, the Joint Office has been implementing a project to deal with the surrender of ex-combatants and to promote social cohesion among conflict-affected communities in the Kasai, Kasai Central and Tanganyika Provinces. 57. The Joint Office continues to support the Government in prison reform. In this regard, since January 2020, it has been involved in developing projects relating to the mapping of prisons, the rehabilitation and construction of prison infrastructure and the updating of laws concerning the reform of the prison system. 58. Since the emergence of COVID-19, the Joint Office has been providing technical assistance to the monitoring committee for the prevention of the pandemic in prisons, established by the Minister of Justice in April 2020. The Joint Office worked with judicial and prison authorities to draw up lists of prisoners eligible for parole. It also called on the judicial authorities to take measures to relieve the congestion in prisons in order to reduce the risks of spreading the virus. As at 30 May 2020, at least 2,723 detainees, including 60 women and 127 children, had been released. The Joint Office carried out other awarenessraising activities on human rights, access to health and the prevention of sexual violence in the context of the implementation of the state of emergency and the application of preventive measures. 59. In monitoring conditions in prisons and other places of detention, the Joint Office called for the release of illegally detained persons. Furthermore, it supported the establishment of a minimum level of service within the judicial system to ensure that it continued to function during the health crisis, with due regard for the necessary precautionary measures. 10 GE.20-11014