A/HRC/6/7 page 5 Introduction 1. Arising out of its deep concern over the ongoing violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Darfur, the Human Rights Council adopted without a vote at its fourth session, on 30 March 2007, resolution 4/8 on the “Follow-up to decision S-4/101 of 13 December 2006 adopted by the Human Rights Council at its fourth special session entitled ‘Situation of human rights in Darfur’”. 2. In its resolution 4/8, the Council decided to convene a group of seven mandate holders “to work with the Government of the Sudan, the appropriate human rights mechanisms of the African Union and to closely consult with the Chairman of the Darfur-Darfur Dialogue and Consultation (DDDC) to ensure the effective follow-up and to foster the implementation of resolutions and recommendations on Darfur, as adopted by the Human Rights Council, the Commission on Human Rights and other United Nations human rights institutions as well as to promote the implementation of relevant recommendations of other United Nations human rights mechanisms, taking into account the needs of the Sudan in this regard, to safeguard the consistency of these recommendations and to contribute to monitoring the human rights situation on the ground” (para. 7). 3. The group of experts is presided over by Sima Samar, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Sudan and is composed of Radhika Coomaraswamy, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict, Philip Alston, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Hina Jilani, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders, Walter Kälin, Representative of the Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced persons, Manfred Nowak, Special Rapporteur on the question of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and Yakin Ertürk, Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences. Mr. Kälin serves as rapporteur for the group of experts. The group of experts has been serviced mainly by the Africa Unit of the Capacity Building Branch, in the Office of the High Commissioner, by the assistants from the Special Procedures Branch to the seven Council mandate-holders that comprise the group of experts, as well as by a coordinator. 4. The group of experts recalls its mandate to ensure the effective follow-up and to foster the implementation of relevant resolutions and recommendations on Darfur in a process of facilitation and dialogue with the Government of the Sudan. 5. The group of experts presented its first report to the Council (A/HCR/5/6) on 13 June 2007. In this report, the group reiterated its concerns regarding the human rights situation in Darfur expressed by the Council in resolution 4/8; identified priority areas for implementation; listed a number of specific recommendations to be implemented in the short or medium term and identified as particularly relevant for improving the human rights situation in Darfur; and urged the Government of the Sudan to implement without delay the