A/HRC/24/31 31. All of the above incidents of arbitrary arrest and detention are clear violations of the right to liberty and security as guaranteed under the interim constitution of the Sudan and article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Government and its security agents should desist from arbitrary arrests and detention to ensure full respect for the right to liberty and security of individuals. All arrests and detentions by the Government must be carried out in accordance with due process and relevant human rights guarantees. D. Freedom of religion 32. The Independent Expert received complaints from different quarters about discrimination against non-Muslims – particularly in Khartoum – and incidents of arrests of individuals, raiding of churches and seizure of Christian literature by security agents due to allegations of Christian proselytization in the country. The right to freedom of religion is enshrined in the interim constitution of the Sudan and article 18 of the International Covenant. The interim constitution also established the Commission for the Rights of NonMuslims in Khartoum State to ensure that their rights are protected in accordance with the constitution. The Sudan has an obligation to ensure that these provisions on the right to freedom of religion are fully respected without discrimination. E. 2010 National Security Act 33. The operations of the National Security Service (NSS) have had an adverse impact on the enjoyment of civil and political rights, particularly press freedom, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, right to liberty, political participation and civil society activities. The activities of NSS also impinge on the role of the police as the legitimate law enforcement institution in a democratic society. This has been a source of concern in the human rights community both nationally and internationally. The Director of NSS noted in his meeting with the Independent Expert that NSS operates within its enabling law, namely the 2010 National Security Act. As a State organ, NSS has an obligation to fully respect human rights when carrying out its legitimate functions. F. Women and children’s rights 34. Women and children are among the most vulnerable groups in the Sudan, especially in regions affected by conflict. The protection of women and children’s rights – particularly in conflict-affected areas –, therefore, is a matter of serious concern. Women are forced, by various circumstances, to engage in routine livelihood activities, such as fetching firewood, farming and animal grazing, to support their families. These activities often expose them to security risks, including sexual and gender-based violence. In Darfur, UNAMID provided technical assistance in the form of workshops on sexual and gender-based violence for a total of 140 government officials and community leaders between April and June 2013. The head of the North Darfur judiciary expressed particular concern about the impact of the conflict in Darfur on children and emphasized the need for improvement in juvenile justice. Girl children are also exposed to harmful cultural practices, such as female genital mutilation (FGM), that infringe their fundamental human rights. 35. The interim constitution guarantees the rights of women and children, but the Sudan has ratified only the Convention on the Rights of the Child; it has not yet ratified the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, and this, in essence, denies women the broader human rights protection provided under international law. 9