A/HRC/33/65 I. Introduction 1. In its resolution 30/22, the Human Rights Council renewed 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. The Council also requested the Independent Expert to report to the Council at its thirtythird session. 2. The present report covers the period from October 2015 to June 2016. In it, the Independent Expert provides an appraisal of the human rights situation in the Sudan during the reporting period, focusing principally on the need to enhance the protection of human rights on the ground and the implementation of the recommendations contained in his previous report to the Council (A/HRC/30/60). 3. The 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 with the mandate he represents. He emphasizes that he was allowed access to all places and institutions that he expressed an interest in visiting and to all officials with whom he expressed the wish to meet. 5. The Independent Expert also thanks the office of the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Khartoum, UNAMID, the United Nations Development Programme, other United Nations agencies and international relief organizations operating in the Sudan, members of the diplomatic community, civil society organizations and all other groups and individuals who provided assistance and shared information with him. II. Methodology and engagement 6. The Independent Expert undertook one visit to the Sudan during the reporting period, from 14 to 28 April 2016. He visited Khartoum, Kadugli in Southern Kordofan State, El-Fasher and Thabit in Northern Darfur State, El-Daein in Eastern Darfur State and El-Gezira State. He met with senior government officials, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, representatives of United Nations and international relief agencies, members of the diplomatic community, civil society organizations, leaders of opposition political parties, academia, community leaders, human rights defenders, professional groups and various interlocutors, and received reliable information about the general situation of human rights in the Sudan. 7. In Khartoum, the Independent Expert held wide-ranging discussions with senior government officials, including the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, the State Minister for Justice, the State Minister for Finances, the Chief Justice and representatives of the judiciary, parliamentarians and various specialized units of different ministries. He was apprised of the situation of human rights in the country by the Rapporteur and members of the Advisory Council for Human Rights and was encouraged by their response to some of the issues he raised. He had frank and constructive discussions with the Director in charge of training and capacity-building of the National Intelligence and Security Service and interacted with the Chair and members of the National Commission for Human Rights, the 3