A/HRC/6/19 page 15 Act 1991, and stressed that witnesses who had been interviewed by United Nations human rights monitors were not victimized. The group, however, did not receive information about the application of norms and programmes to protect witnesses. 38. Although the Government submitted a list of 170 lawyers working in Darfur on behalf of victims, it did not provide specific information regarding the protection of human rights defenders against arbitrary detention, physical abuse and harassment as tools for silencing their criticism of human rights violations in the Darfur region (recommendation 1.6.1). Regarding the freedom of press (recommendation 1.6.2), it stressed that, since January 2007, article 130 of the Criminal Code could no longer be used to take steps against newspapers on the basis of complaints of defamation. The Government also provided a large number of articles on Darfur published by various newspapers. However, United Nations agencies, bodies and programmes operational in Darfur did not observe any effective action by Government authorities to lift restrictions on the press. They reported that the work of newspapers and journalists remained significantly restricted by the National Press Law, criminal laws and extra-legal practices. Since mid-August, the United Nations has documented several cases of censorship by the NISS of Arabic-language dailies including Ray al Shaab, Al Sudani, Al Sahafa, Al Ayaam and Al Meidan. Methods of censorship have included the seizure of all copies of the latest edition of the newspaper, daily inspections by NISS officials of newspaper offices and printing houses and orders by the NISS to remove or re-edit articles from the next day’s issue of the paper. A ban imposed by the Press Council on 22 May 2007 prohibiting the reporting of statements of representatives of Darfurian rebel groups remained in force during the period under review. A number of draft laws remain under consideration by the Media Information and Communication Committee of the National Assembly, the parliamentary body in charge of drafting new laws. B. Humanitarian access Protection of humanitarian workers from harassment and attack 39. By mid-November 2007, there were between 12,500 and 15,800 humanitarian workers in Darfur. Recommendations 2.1.1-2.2.3 regarding their protection from harassment and attacks and facilitating humanitarian access to the civilian population, including those displaced, address a number of problems faced by humanitarian organizations, including denial of visas or expulsions of humanitarian workers, attacks on humanitarian workers, their transport and supply, and denial of humanitarian access to civilians in need of assistance. 40. The Government informed the group that, in March 2007, it had announced the implementation of a fast-track policy aimed at facilitating the granting of visas and the importation of humanitarian goods and material. The announcement was made in a joint communiqué with the United Nations. Furthermore, a general procedures directory and the Darfur fast-track annex, which provided guidance on administrative procedures for non-governmental organizations working in Darfur were endorsed by the Minister for State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. An annual volunteer’s day was inaugurated on 11 June 2007 and the President of the Republic gave an address expressing the appreciation of the Sudan for the role played by donors and voluntary organizations in improving the humanitarian situation in Darfur. On national volunteer’s day, the President awarded the medal of achievement to a number of national and foreign voluntary organizations.