A/HRC/6/19 page 14 include three cases of arbitrary detention by SLA/MM and nine cases of ill-treatment in detention, of which eight by SLA/MM and one by Government military authorities. People of Darfurian origin in Khartoum reportedly run a heightened risk of being arrested and detained by officials of the NISS, in particular when they were suspected of being political activists or of having maintained links with Darfur rebel movements. Those detained by the NISS have generally been held incommunicado for up to several months and have not been provided with access to legal counsel. There are consistent and credible reports of torture in NISS detentions. 34. Regarding the recommendation to refrain from detaining anyone incommunicado and to close all unofficial places of detention (recommendation 1.4.2), the Government of the Sudan provided the group of experts with a list of detainees in Darfur indicating that there were 70 detainees between 1 June and 30 October 2007, including 41 in South Darfur and 29 in West Darfur. The Government stated that most detainees had been released and had remained in detention for periods between 10 days to two months. The cases of seven detainees were referred to the Attorney-General and one to the police. A total of 10 detainees remained in detention as of the date when the document was submitted to the group of experts. The Government stressed that the police kept registers of all persons in their custody on a daily basis and, once the prosecutor decided that a criminal case should be opened, a case diary would be kept, which could be verified on the ground. It insisted that no unofficial places of detention under the authority of the NISS existed. Investigation into the issue of unofficial places of detention showed that some militias with whom the Sudan had signed peace agreements had illegal places of detention in Khartoum but that they had been closed in the meantime. The group notes this information as well as documented reports by the United Nations alleging the detention of individuals either incommunicado or in unofficial places of detention. 35. With regard to institutional reform of the NISS (recommendation 1.4.5), the Constitution of 2005 bestows special tasks on the security forces. The Government informed the group of experts that the corresponding draft law on the national security service was currently under internal discussion. 36. The group of experts was informed by the Government that key ministries had approved a recommendation to the Advisory Council on Human Rights on accession to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and that ratification was under consideration (recommendation 1.4.6). 5. Protection of victims and witnesses 37. The group recommended that human rights monitors have full and unimpeded access to witnesses and victims of human rights violations; that witnesses and victims should not be subjected to any violence, reprisals or harassment due to their cooperation with human rights monitors; and that all necessary and feasible measures be taken to protect witnesses and victims against violence, reprisals and harassment by third parties (recommendation 1.5.1). In response, the Government stressed that no witnesses who spoke to UNMIS had been intimidated or threatened by the authorities. The Government provided the group with information in writing and orally that pertained to the protection of victims and witnesses as provided by the interim Constitution 2005, the Evidence Act 1994, the Criminal Act 1991 and the Criminal Procedure