A/HRC/24/31 Combating Violence against Women and Children. The Independent Expert also met with civil society organizations, human rights defenders and victims of human rights violations, some of whom shared their personal experiences with him. He met with members of the diplomatic community, representatives of opposition political parties and some staff members and students of the University of Khartoum, and received valuable information on the human rights situation in the country. 8. In Darfur, the Independent Expert met with the Governors of North and South Darfur, the Head of the Security Commission of the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA), the Head of the North Darfur judiciary, the Special Prosecutor for Darfur crimes, the North Darfur General Prosecutor, the State Minister for Social Affairs, the Family and Child Protection Unit of the Sudanese police, officials of UNAMID and United Nations agencies in North and South Darfur. He also had fruitful meetings with human rights defenders and representatives of civil society organizations in the two states, and visited two camps for internally displaced persons, namely, Abou Shouk IDP camp in North Darfur and Otash camp in South Darfur, where he witnessed the deplorable living conditions of the residents. He also visited the Centre for Peace Studies and Human Rights at Al-Fasher University in North Darfur and discussed the role of academic institutions in the promotion and protection of human rights in the Sudan. 9. In North Kordofan, the Independent Expert met with the deputy Governor and other state officials. He visited a temporary shelter for displaced persons and a religious centre that has been attacked by rebels in April 2013. In Blue Nile state, the Independent Expert held meetings with the Governor and other state officials, including the head of the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC). He also had fruitful discussions about the humanitarian situation with United Nations agencies working in the state. 10. The Independent Expert notes that the recommendations made during the 2011 universal periodic review (UPR) of the Sudan continue to serve as the main entry point for the implementation of his mandate. In his engagement with the Government and other stakeholders, the Independent Expert stressed his results-oriented approach to the implementation of the mandate, which entreats the Government to publish periodic reports on tangible results and progress made in the implementation of the UPR recommendations. III. Background 11. A mixture of political, social and economic challenges has adversely affected the general human rights situation in the Sudan. The country has suffered from two long civil wars that have not fully ended to date. The Darfur conflict, which erupted in 2003, has been a major human rights tragedy for the country. Darfur continues to be characterized by widespread human rights violations and large-scale civilian displacements due to the persistence of fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and armed opposition groups in the region. Up to 1.9 million people are still displaced throughout the region, relying on humanitarian agencies to provide basic services. The Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) signed in 2006 between the Government of the Sudan and a faction of the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) did not succeed in ending the conflict. Political progress has however been made with the signing of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) between the Government and some of the armed opposition groups. The DDPD remains the only viable roadmap for peace in Darfur, despite its very slow implementation. 12. The North-South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) of 2005 had also raised hopes for lasting peace in the country, and paved the way for the independence of South Sudan in 2011. Yet the Sudan continues to face a number of new challenges following the independence of South Sudan due to a number of thorny issues left unresolved under the 4