A/72/53/Add.1 9. Also notes several positive developments, such as the recent separation of the attorney general’s office from the Ministry of Justice, the appointment on 16 May 2017 of a chairperson to the Sudan National Commission for Human Rights, the presidential pardon of 259 armed rebel movement members in Darfur, and also of two pastors who had been sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment, and acknowledges the general amnesty announced on 29 August 2017 of representatives of civil society and human rights activists, and on 4 September the release on bail of representatives of civil society; 10. Acknowledges the observations made by the Independent Expert in his report, urges the Government of the Sudan to ensure respect for the human rights of all individuals, and expresses concern about the incidents of harassment, arbitrary arrest and prolonged detention, including of students, human rights defenders and members of civil society organizations, the restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly and the ongoing censorship of media, while urging the Government to respect its constitutional and international obligations and commitments and to address the demolition of places of worship and reports of harassment of religious leaders; 11. Stresses that conducting investigations into alleged human rights abuses and violations by all parties and holding perpetrators to account should be a foremost priority of the Government of the Sudan, while noting the view that bringing all of the Government’s agencies and offices into line with the State’s international human rights obligations and commitments can improve the human rights environment in the Sudan; 12. Expresses serious concern about alleged violations or abuses of human rights in conflict zones, including those involving sexual and gender-based violence, and urges parties to protect civilians and to pursue peace; 13. Urges Member States, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, relevant United Nations agencies and other stakeholders to support the efforts of the Government of the Sudan in accordance with the present resolution with a view to further improving the situation of human rights in the country by responding to the Government’s requests for technical assistance and capacity-building; 14. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner, taking into account the recommendations of the Independent Expert, to provide technical assistance and capacitybuilding in response to the request from the Government of the Sudan for support on ways to improve the situation of human rights in the country and with a view to providing support for the country to fulfil its human rights obligations and commitments; 15. Decides to renew the mandate of the Independent Expert for a period of one year; 16. Requests the Independent Expert to present a report on the implementation of his mandate, including recommendations on technical assistance and capacity-building, to the Human Rights Council for consideration at its thirty-ninth session; 17. Calls upon the Government of the Sudan to continue its full cooperation with the Independent Expert and to continue to permit effective access to visit all areas of the country, and to meet with all relevant actors; 18. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner to provide all financial and human resources necessary to the Independent Expert for the implementation of the mandate; 19. Acknowledges that the situation of human rights in the Sudan informs the establishment, renewal and transition of mandates related to the Sudan by the Human Rights Council, and urges the Government of the Sudan to cooperate with the Independent Expert, the Office of the High Commissioner and other stakeholders with the view that the continued and sustained improvement in the situation of human rights in the Sudan would contribute to an eventual transition of the mandate from that of Independent Expert to another appropriate United Nations human rights mechanism; 20. Decides to consider this issue under agenda item 10. 42nd meeting 29 September 2017 [Adopted without a vote.] GE.17-18194 71