A/HRC/39/70 C. Regional cooperation to promote human rights 27. From 24 to 26 April 2018, the Independent Expert visited Gabon to discuss the regional dimension of the crisis in the Central African Republic and its impact on human rights. While appreciating the cooperation between the United Nations and ECCAS on regional peace and security issues, she emphasized the vital role of ECCAS in the dialogue for peace, progress on justice and reconciliation and improving the humanitarian situation in the country. Her visit in June strengthened her opinion and she invited the States of the subregion to strengthen their support for the Central African Republic. 28. Recommending joint measures on the questions of the transhumance, the Independent Expert took note of the intentions to establish bipartite and tripartite commissions, particularly with Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Chad. 29. In Libreville, the Independent Expert spoke of the crucial role that ECCAS, with the support of UNOCA, could play in harmonizing strategies to combat the illicit circulation of arms and natural resources, armed groups and mercenaries and in promoting the protection of refugees. She invited these institutions to increase their cooperation with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), and to strengthen the sharing of experiences, especially regarding the institutional reform of ECCAS. In particular, she appreciated the opening of the Joint Summit of ECOWAS and ECCAS Heads of State and Government in Lomé on 30 July 2018. Similarly, she continues to encourage South-South bilateral and multilateral cooperation initiatives to assist the Central African Republic and ECCAS in their respective reforms. She also repeats that the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and its special mechanism can play a role in supporting the Central African Republic. She herself intends to strengthen her cooperation with the Commission. 30. The Independent Expert was informed of the drafting of a subregional action plan to implement Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women and peace and security. At the same time, she noted the importance of considering a subregional action plan on child protection, including with regard to children and armed conflict. In New York, she discussed the benefits of strategies to combine efforts to protect women and children in the subregion. She plans to develop strengthened cooperation with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. 31. Regarding security, the Independent Representative welcomed the forthcoming organization of the Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa, during which stability in the Central African Republic and subregional security in Central Africa could be raised. III. Human rights situation 32. The period from July 2017 was marked by a steady rise in human rights violations and abuses connected with the proliferation of clashes and attacks by the various armed groups, mainly anti-Balaka and ex-Séléka groups. Murder, torture, inhuman and degrading treatment, sexual violence, abduction, deprivation of liberty and arbitrary arrest, extortion and looting, recruitment and use of children, occupation of and attacks on schools, health centres and places of worship, and denial of humanitarian aid continue to be the main abuses. 33. Between July 2017 and June 2018, MINUSCA recorded 3,422 cases of violations and abuses, which left 5,457 victims (3,177 men, 662 women, 550 boys, 255 girls and 70 unidentified children, as well as 562 identified adult and 181 other victims. 1 1 6 Between July 2016 and June 2017, the Human Rights Division of MINUSCA recorded 1,976 cases of violations and abuses, which left 3,423 victims (see A/HRC/36/64, para. 42). GE.18-13342