A/HRC/7/25 page 5 Introduction 1. By its resolution 2004/84, 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.6 He then presented a report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth, sixty-first and sixty-second sessions.7 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 (“the Council”).8 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 session9 and this report were drawn up pursuant to that decision. 2. In preparation for the submission of his report to the Council at its seventh session, the independent expert on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Titinga Frédéric Pacéré, carried out a fourth fact-finding and working visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo over an eight-day period from 28 November to 5 December 2007. 3. The independent expert went to Kinshasa and to Bukavu in South Kivu. In Kinshasa, he held frank discussions with the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Speaker of the Senate, the Chief Justice of the Military High Court, the Chief Military Prosecutor, the ministers for justice, human rights, women, defence and humanitarian affairs and the deputy ministers for foreign affairs and human rights. He also met with representatives of: the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC); the United Nations system in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; the diplomatic corps in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; human rights organizations; members of the initiative to combat sexual violence; and civil society. In Bukavu, South Kivu, he met with the governor of the province, members of the Provincial Assembly, and the judicial, civil and military authorities. The expert also exchanged views with local MONUC officials, representatives of human rights NGOs and local civil society. 4. This report analyses the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from June to December 2007, with updates on important developments at the Conference on Peace, Security and Development in the Provinces of North and South Kivu, held from 6 6 E/CN.4/2005/120. 7 A/60/395, A/61/475 and A/62/313. 8 E/CN.4/2006/113. 9 A/HRC/4/7.