A/HRC/7/25 page 2 Summary By its resolution 2004/84 of 21 April 2004, the Commission on Human Rights decided to appoint an independent expert to provide assistance to the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the field of human rights, to study the evolving situation of human rights and to verify that obligations in that field were being fulfilled. The independent expert presented his preliminary report to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-first session.2 He then presented a report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth, sixty-first and sixty-second sessions.3 He had also prepared a report for the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-second session, which was to be examined by the Human Rights Council.4 Like the special procedures and thematic mandates of the Commission on Human Rights, the mandate of the independent expert on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was extended by decision 1/102, adopted by the Human Rights Council on 30 June 2006. His report to the Human Rights Council at its fourth session5 and this report were drawn up pursuant to that decision. During his visits to both Geneva and New York, the expert held meetings about the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and his mandate. The expert also visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo between 28 November and 5 December 2007. In the light of the information that he gathered during 2007 and at the very beginning of 2008, the independent expert is in a position to make relevant observations and recommendations on the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The situation continues to give concern: the lack of security remains worrying, especially in the regions in the east of the country, where militias and armed groups, as well as the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) commit serious human rights violations with impunity, and in Bas-Congo. The weakness of the judiciary and its lack of independence vis-à-vis the executive, which has control over judicial decisions, are also deplorable. The independent expert therefore recommends, inter alia, that: (a) The “Acte d’engagement” signed in Goma on 23 January 2008 should be implemented; 2 E/CN.4/2005/120. 3 A/60/395, A/61/475 and A/62/313. 4 E/CN.4/2006/113. 5 A/HRC/4/7.