A/HRC/7/22 page 15 were arrested and received 101 or more lashes. Police also tied their hands and legs behind their backs and accused them of being spies. They were released on 17 November. Members of a group of volunteer polio vaccination workers were given 20 lashes each by SPLM police in Regifi near Kurchi on 19 November, and made to pay 300 Sudanese pounds. They were accused of being spies. 60. Administration of justice, arbitrary arrests and ill-treatment of detainees are causes for concern. Suspects are often detained for several days without appearing before traditional courts. For example, in Abyei, two women, aged 16 and 18, were arrested by Joint Integrated Units and a police officer for allegedly preventing the police officer from beating street children in Abyei market and did not receive any judgement for several days. A manager of a gas station was reportedly arrested on 29 November by Kadugli police, following nearly two weeks of harassment, after he failed to provide the police with 220 gallons of diesel fuel, which he did not have. He filed a suit against a Government police captain, who has counter-sued. The police officer sought immunity under section 46 of the Police Act; however, the State Attorney prosecutor dismissed the appeal. The police have appealed to the Attorney General in Khartoum against the decision. 61. Serious deficiencies in the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights are common in the transitional areas. In some areas, there is a trend towards favouritism in the distribution of education and health-care services based on ethnicity and/or political affiliation. In a positive development, the Ministry of Finance launched the Blue Nile Relief Project, which will focus on access to water, health, education and roads. VII. SOUTHERN SUDAN 62. Serious challenges remain in the protection and realization of human rights in Southern Sudan while institutions struggle with meagre human and financial resources to redress this situation. Several of these institutions have reviewed or are currently reviewing their plans, budgets, structures and legal frameworks and are strategizing on their future and compelling priorities. Several of them have welcomed and benefited from assistance provided by the international community, including that of the United Nations, namely in terms of training, infrastructure, logistics and review of basic documentation. However, enormous challenges remain ahead as key laws still need to be passed or amended so as to comply with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the Constitution of Southern Sudan and international human rights treaties. Adequate protection and viable mechanisms need to be put in place for the protection of basic human rights and increased awareness on human rights needs to be ensured throughout Southern Sudan. 63. The establishment of the Southern Sudan Human Rights Commission will be of paramount importance to provide the Southern Sudanese with an independent oversight mechanism that people can refer to, that will promote human rights standards and draw human rights concerns to the attention of the relevant authorities. To date, the Commission has not been fully operational, as the enabling law has not been passed and signed. In September, a revised version of the enabling bill on the Commission was submitted to the Southern Sudan Ministry of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development. The new version is in line with the Paris Principles, as it recognizes the independent character of the Commission and ensures a pluralistic representation of various social groups. At the end of December 2007, the Southern Sudan Legislative