A/HRC/18/40 56. The Darfur peace process continues to face significant challenges without the active participation of some major armed movements. In May 2011, the Darfur mediation successfully held an all-Darfur stakeholders conference aimed at drawing a broad consensus on the challenges ahead and enhancing civil society participation in the peace process. The United Nations and the African Union have proposed that the Doha process be concluded, and have invited all stakeholders to continue the peace process through a Darfur-based political process. The new process, to be spearheaded by UNAMID, calls for the establishment of an enabling environment necessary to protect the political and civil rights of the participants. The Government has indicated its willingness to lift emergency laws in effect in Darfur as a sign of its commitment to ensure the credibility of the process. The Government, meanwhile announced early in March that it would proceed with its decision to hold a referendum on the administrative status on Darfur, a move strongly opposed by the armed movements. VII. Conclusion 57. The successful conduct of the South Sudan referendum was undoubtedly a momentous achievement. The independent expert commends the Government of the Sudan and the Government of South Sudan for the great efforts made to ensure a credible and peaceful referendum process for the self-determination of South Sudan. With the separation of South Sudan, the first challenge facing the Government of the Sudan is to foster a culture of pluralism and tolerance and to move towards a more inclusive, participatory and transparent democratic process, which will have a direct impact on human rights. The realization of fundamental rights and freedoms, including the freedom of expression and association, remains an enormous challenge in the Sudan as it moves into a new era. In spite of the positive steps taken in the area of law reform, there is growing concern about the pervasive presence of the national security apparatus and its impact on the exercise of civil and political rights in the 22