A/HRC/19/48 Activities of the Joint Human Rights Office 34. UNJHRO continues to closely monitor cases involving journalists, human rights defenders, victims and witnesses, to ensure that their rights are respected and that the judiciary is not used as a tool of repression. Active care was taken to broaden the protection networks established in partnership with local NGOs beyond the cities into territories further afield. In so doing, UNJHRO and its partners were able to offer various forms of protection to six journalists, 36 human rights defenders, three witnesses and 38 victims over the first six months of 2011. The people concerned were offered advice on protective measures, received temporary shelter at MONUSCO field bases or were relocated as necessary. UNJHRO provided technical assistance in the drafting of amendments to the draft law on human rights defenders, and is actively following up the parliamentary procedure in collaboration with the parliamentary network on human rights. Obstacles 35. The obstacles mentioned in the High Commissioner’s previous report remain.23 Efforts are required to ensure in particular that the judicial and security authorities fully understand and appreciate the value of the work of journalists and human rights defenders. Democratic space is often limited due to the instrumentalization of security and intelligence officials by politicians.24 F. Public liberties and elections Existing recommendations 36. In the past, several recommendations had been made related to the strengthening of democratic space. The regime of information governing the exercise of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly (article 26 of the Constitution) should be respected without any arbitrary interference from the executive. A number of press offences should be decriminalized and the draft law on the Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel et de la Communication (CSAC) should be adopted. More generally, the Government should encourage and enable public dialogue and scrutiny in order to ensure the sustainability and advancement of the democratic process. The High Commissioner also urged the Government not to prohibit or impede any political demonstration and other public expressions of political opinion that are peaceful and do not incite to violence. 25 Measures taken by the Government and current situation 37. Between January and October 2011, UNJHRO documented 209 alleged human rights violations directly related to the elections, targeting political opponents and the general population. Almost 70 per cent of the violations were attributed to PNC and ANR agents, who often abused their prerogatives to serve political ends. Supporters of the political opposition were often subjected to arbitrary and illegal arrests and detentions, further limiting their freedom of expression. The High Commissioner is particularly worried by such manipulation of the State’s security and intelligence sectors by political actors. Motives related to State security or defamation of the Head of State are regularly evoked by the authorities in an attempt to justify arbitrary arrests and detentions. 23 24 25 See A/HRC/13/64, para. 36; and A/HRC/16/27, para. 46. See para. 37 below. See footnote 3. 13