A/HRC/12/18 page 9 Guatemalan courts. It also carries out efforts to promote legal and institutional reform. OHCHR Guatemala, in coordination with the Commission, provided technical assistance to the Department of Civilian Intelligence with regard to the creation of a criminal analysis unit, and to the National Civilian Policy authorities on a plan to restructure criminal investigations. OHCHR Guatemala, jointly with the Commission, also trained assigned police in the investigation of human rights abuses. OHCHR Guatemala also provided technical assistance to the Public Prosecutor’s Office in strengthening the disciplinary system as well as protection of witnesses and others involved in criminal proceedings. 2. Prosecution initiatives 19. Prosecution initiatives aim to ensure that those responsible for perpetrating serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law are tried and duly punished. States have primary responsibility to exercise jurisdiction over these crimes (see E/CN.4/2005/102/Add.1, principle 20). Therefore, a sustainable transitional justice strategy seeks to develop national prosecutorial capacities. At the same time, States emerging from years of conflict may be unable or unwilling to conduct effective investigations and prosecutions. In such situations, international and internationalized criminal tribunals may exercise concurrent jurisdiction. Regardless of the form prosecution initiatives take, they must rest on a clear commitment to combating impunity, focus attention on the needs of the victims, and comply with international standards of fair trial. OHCHR has provided technical assistance and monitored prosecution initiatives to ensure their compliance with international human rights standards. (a) Africa 20. HRU UNMIS (United Nations Mission in the Sudan) monitored trials conducted by the Special Criminal Court on the Events in Darfur and reported its concerns about the Court’s failure to deal with major violations of human rights and international humanitarian law which were committed during the conflict in Darfur. 21. The United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) has provided information and technical support to prosecutors in certain high-profile human rights cases. To build the long-term prosecutorial capacities of the civilian and military justice systems of the country, MONUC is exploring the possibility of establishing mixed prosecution support cells in several eastern provinces. Led by a MONUC judicial adviser and composed of civilian and military prosecutors and police officers, such cells would train and assist judicial officials in the Democratic Republic to ensure impartial and effective investigation and prosecution of serious crimes. 22. The Special Court for Sierra Leone is a hybrid tribunal established in 2002 pursuant to Security Council resolution 1315 (2000) and following an agreement between the Government of Sierra Leone and the United Nations, with jurisdiction over persons bearing the greatest responsibility for serious crimes committed during the conflict. The human rights and rule of law components of the peacekeeping missions in Sierra Leone have monitored the trials of indictees, provided expert testimony to the Court, and facilitated a technical conference between the Special Court and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Two cases addressing human rights violations committed during the conflict have also been prosecuted in the national courts.