A/HRC/21/62 cultural rights on an equal footing as citizens – regarding people of both northern and southern Sudan origin”, and “take concrete steps to prevent any form of infringement on the human rights of southern Sudanese residing in the north, including by addressing issues of nationality in cooperation with the authorities in Southern Sudan”. 5 43. The Government indicated in its implementation strategy that it had taken measures to address the above-mentioned problem, but would also continue to address the cases not solved yet. The international partners had raised this concern with particular reference to allegations of cases of arbitrary arrest of embassy staff members suspected of being from Southern Sudan. These allegations were raised by up to three foreign missions in their meetings with the Independent Expert. In his meetings with the Advisory Council on Human Rights, the Independent Expert underlined this as an important matter that needed to be addressed by the Government. 6. Recent developments in the Sudan 44. The Independent Expert received communications from various civil society organizations and takes note of the press statement issued by OHCHR on 28 June 2012, in which the Office raised concerns about the use of force by Sudanese security agencies against demonstrators in different parts of the Sudan. The Independent Expert is particularly concerned about the most recent case in South Darfur, which resulted in the death and injury of demonstrators. He expresses his condolence and sympathy to the families of the dead and injured victims, and supports the call made by OHCHR to the Government to conduct promptly an independent and credible investigation into the violence and to hold those responsible accountable. This incident confirms the need for capacity-building and training of the Sudanese security forces on how to respect and protect the legitimate right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. 45. The Independent Expert is of the view that a purposeful needs assessment for technical assistance and capacity-building for the improvement of human rights must, of necessity, take the legitimate human rights concerns of potential donors and international partners into consideration. In this regard, the Government of the Sudan should address these concerns as a demonstration of its political will to fulfil its human rights obligations. As most of the above concerns expressed by the diplomatic community and international partners were already in the recommendations, made during the universal periodic review of the Sudan, the Independent Expert recommends that they be considered by the Government as matters that should fall within its short-term implementation plan. C. Meetings with civil society 46. The Independent Expert held meetings with representatives of various civil society organizations, including the Sudanese Women General Union, the Sudan Council of Voluntary Agencies, members of the Sudanese Bar, human rights defenders and academics. 47. Apart from corroborating the concerns raised by the diplomatic community and international partners, many of the members of human rights organizations raised concerns about the restricted space for their human rights activities and expressed their fear of being arbitrarily arrested by Government agencies. They expressed the hope of eventually engaging with the Government to address human rights challenges and to contribute positively to improving the human rights situation in the Sudan. They also informed the 5 Ibid. 11