A/HRC/30/60 I. Introduction 1. In its resolution 27/29, the Human Rights Council extended the mandate of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan for a period of one year, and requested him to continue his engagement with the Government of the Sudan to assess, verify and report on the situation of human rights with a view to making recommendations on technical assistance and capacity-building for addressing human rights in the country; and to report to the Council at its thirtieth session. 2. The present report covers the period from 1 December 2014 to 30 June 2015. In compliance with the Code of Conduct of Special Procedures Mandate Holders of the Human Rights Council, a draft report was shared with the Government of the Sudan in order to provide it with an opportunity to comment on the observations and findings of the Independent Expert. 3. The present report is based on information made available to the Independent Expert during his visit to the Sudan, as well as on information provided by the Government of the Sudan, the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) and other sources, including civil society organizations, United Nations agencies, funds and programmes with operational competence in the Sudan, as well as the donor community. 4. The Independent Expert expresses his gratitude to the Government of the Sudan for its invitation and cooperation, to the Office of the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Khartoum, and to UNAMID for supporting and facilitating his mission to the country. He also thanks the donor community and civil society organizations for their important work in promoting and protecting human rights in the country. 5. The Independent Expert also wishes to thank the previous mandate holder, Prof. Mashood Baderin, for the invaluable exchanges held on the complexity of the human rights situation and the development of the mandate. II. Methodology 6. The Independent Expert undertook one visit to the Sudan during the period under review, from 13 to 23 May 2015, and visited Khartoum as well as the States of Northern and Southern Darfur. The objective of the field visits and meetings in this early part of his work on the Sudan was to identify the technical assistance and capacity-building needs of the Sudan that will enable the State to fulfil its human rights obligations. 7. In Khartoum, the Independent Expert held wide-ranging discussions with senior government officials, including the Minister for Justice, the Assistant to the President of the Republic of the Sudan and the Director General of Global Issues of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was apprised of the situation of human rights in the country by the Rapporteur ad interim and members of the Advisory Council for Human Rights, and was encouraged by their response to some of the issues he raised. He also met the Chairperson and members of the National Commission for Human Rights. He had frank and fruitful discussions with the Deputy Director of the National Security Service, and interacted with the Chief Justice and ranking members of the Judiciary, the Chairperson and members of the National Commission for Human Rights, the Chairperson and members of the National Elections Commission, the Director of the Humanitarian Aid Commission, the Chairperson and members of the Sudanese Bar Association, the Chairperson and members of the National Press Council, the National Council for Child Welfare, the National Mechanism for Family and Child Protection Unit and the National Demining Centre. The Independent Expert also 3