A/HRC/19/21 human rights assessment mission to Yemen, and in November and December, an OHCHR team was sent to Yemen. In August, I sent an team to the Sudan and South Sudan to assess the facts and circumstances around the events in Abyei in April and to explore possibilities for human rights monitoring, in accordance with Security Council resolution 1990 (2011) establishing the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei. Regrettably, access to Abyei has not yet been possible. 91. In this connection, access to situations of protracted conflicts is important and there is a need to pay more attention to such situations. The mandate of the High Commissioner is to promote and protect the human rights of all, everywhere, including in territories controlled by de facto authorities. 92. Monitoring and reporting are essential, as factual and objective information is critical for dialogue, advocacy, protection and adequate assistance. In Afghanistan, OHCHR and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan publish two reports a year on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, documenting figures on civilian casualties relating to the conflict and making recommendations to anti-Government and pro-Government forces alike. OHCHR believes that this reporting on civilian casualties has contributed to strengthening accountability and the respect for international humanitarian law. For instance, the proportion of civilian casualties caused by pro-Government forces declined owing to the improved safeguards they have adopted as a result of the recommendations made in the report and subsequent advocacy. 93. In an effort to strengthen human rights further in the United Nations peace and security agenda, OHCHR led the development of a policy on Human Rights in United Nations peace operations and political missions, which was jointly endorsed in September by OHCHR, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the Department of Political Affairs and the Department of Field Support. This landmark document captures current policy, institutional arrangements and good practices in the integration of human rights into peace operations in a single, binding document, and provides further operational guidance for its implementation. It will contribute to the effective delivery of human rights mandates and more coherent approaches to human rights across peace operations. 94. OHCHR efforts to enhance the implementation of Security Council mandates for the protection of civilians continued throughout 2011. I addressed the Council in May and November, emphasizing the importance of including robust language on human rights protection and promotion in its mandates and ensuring sustained attention to accountability issues. My Office also worked closely with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations on a number of initiatives, including a training package for peacekeeping personnel on the protection of civilians, a review of how protection of civilians is integrated into planning processes, and an assessment of the resources and capabilities needed for the effective implementation of mandates for the protection of civilians. 95. My Office also took a leading role in the human rights due diligence policy on United Nations support for non-United Nations security forces. This policy was endorsed by the Secretary-General in July, following an inter-agency effort co-led by OHCHR and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. It reiterates the Organization’s commitment to ensure that support provided to non-United Nations security forces is based on respect for human rights and international humanitarian law, and provides operational guidance in this respect. 96. To curb crime and violence, OHCHR advocated for a comprehensive approach that looks at the root causes of crime and violence, highlighting that crime prevention, including through socio-economic measures to improve livelihood opportunities and attention to victims and groups at risk, are as important as control and sanction. A rights-based approach to public security also requires that particular attention be paid to victims’ rights 16