in this report. iv. Indicate in the next periodic report the challenges faced by the DRC government in the effective implementation of human rights guaranteed by the African Charter; The DR-Congo is making significant efforts to implement the rights guaranteed by the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. However, its action is confronted with a number of difficulties related basically to the recurrence of armed conflicts in the East of the country. v. Ensure that the subsequent periodic report contains updated disaggregated and statistical data; This report contains adequate updated disaggregated and statistical data. vi. Take the necessary measures to ratify the following instruments:   The African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance; The Protocol to the African Charter on the Establishment of an African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights , and make the required Declaration under Article 34 (6) of the aforementioned Protocol ; The DR-Congo has taken note of this recommendation and promised to implement it. vii. Accelerate the process of ratifying the Maputo Protocol; The DR-Congo has ratified the MAPUTO Protocol, since 9/06/2008 and the instruments of ratification were deposited on 09/02/2009. viii. Take the necessary measures to ensure the operationalization of the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) of which the draft bill on its establishment is currently before the National Assembly in accordance with the Paris Principles on the establishment of institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights; The DR-Congo has taken note of this recommendation and has implemented it. Currently, the National Human Rights Commission is operational and it is working in accordance with the Paris Principles on the establishment of institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights; ix. Take the necessary measures towards the implementation of the Congolese Human and Peoples’ Rights Charter of 2001, particularly in relation to the return of property confiscated from their owners; The DR-Congo has taken note of this recommendation and has implemented it. Indeed, the files on confiscated property have been taken care of by the competent judicial authorities. The return is always done where it is established that the persons wronged are the bona fide property owners. x. Take all the necessary measures for the effective implementation of the National Strategy to fight against sexual and gender-based violence as well as the effective implementation of the laws of 2006 on sexual violence, including the prosecution and penalization of the perpetrators of rape and other acts of violence against women; Acts of sexual violence continue to be one of the characteristics of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly in the East of the country. According to statistics collected by the Ministry of Gender, Family and Children’s Affairs, more than 15.352 were victims of acts of sexual violence in the Katanga, North-Kivu, and South-Kivu Provinces and in the Ituri District in 2013. In view of the magnitude and seriousness of the phenomena, the government of the DRC has taken various measures to address the issue of sexual violence, particularly by enacting laws No. 06/0l8 of 20 July, 2006 amending and complementing the Decree of 30 January, 1940 on the Congolese 7