A/HRC/24/31 subsequently prevented a group of organizations from submitting a complaint against the Government’s decision to the NCHR. The action of NSS was a clear violation of the right of these organizations to protest as well as a hindrance to the statutory function of the NCHR to receive petitions from the public. The NCHR appropriately objected to the NSS action and issued a press release and a written complaint to the President of the Republic. 26. These actions by the security agencies stifle free speech and the effective operations of civil society organizations in the Sudan and are contrary to the obligation of the Sudan to respect and protect the right to freedom of assembly and expression as guaranteed under its interim constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which the Sudan is a State party. Civil society organizations are the bedrock for the protection and promotion of human rights in a democratic society and the Government must ensure that they are able to operate freely and that their right to freedom of assembly and expression is fully respected. B. Press censorship 27. Press censorship by government security agents continued unabated during the reporting period. Despite the Independent Expert’s call for the Government to desist from this practice, the Government continues to arbitrarily close down newspapers and arrest journalists for publishing stories deemed critical of the Government. Although the Government announced in May 2013 that it had put an end to press censorship, NSS ordered up to four newspapers to cease operations in June 2013. Pre-publication censorship continues to be used against newspapers and some journalists were ordered to cease their newspaper columns. Security agencies continue to intimidate and instil fear of arrest in journalists, which consequently impedes press freedom, freedom of opinion and freedom of expression. The importance of press freedom and freedom of expression in a democratic society is paramount, and the Government should fully guarantee these rights. The Government is also encouraged to implement its plans to train law enforcement and security officers to respect the right to freedom of speech and amend the Press and Publication Act to give more protection to journalists and newspaper publishers. C. Arbitrary arrests and detentions 28. In January 2013, some political opposition figures were arrested and detained without charge by NSS on allegations of holding illegal meetings outside the country. At the end of his mission to the Sudan in February 2013, the Independent Expert called on the Government to either release the detainees or promptly charge them with recognizable offences before a court of law. The Government eventually released the said political detainees in April 2013 without any charges. Similarly, at a meeting with the ACHR in June 2013, the Independent Expert raised concerns about 34 women from Kadugli in South Kordofan who had been arbitrarily detained without charge. The Government subsequently released the women in July 2013 without any charges. 29. In April 2013, the Government announced that all political prisoners would be released. While it has been reported that some political prisoners have since been released, it is not clear whether all have been released. The Government should fulfil its pledge by releasing all political prisoners still in detention and making this public. 30. Furthermore, in July 2013, 12 people were reported to have been arrested and detained without charge by government security agents in Abu Karinka locality (East Darfur) for participating in a protest in the area. 8