A/HRC/24/31 VII. Conclusions and recommendations 74. The Human Rights Council mandate on technical assistance and capacitybuilding to the Sudan in the field of human rights has provided an appropriate platform for the Independent Expert to engage with the Government of the Sudan on improving the human rights situation in the country, and to assist in identifying areas of assistance that would help the Sudan to fulfil its human rights obligations. 75. The Government of the Sudan has made some progress in developing policies and legislative and institutional mechanisms necessary for improving the human rights situation in the country. It now needs to concentrate on implementing these policies through the adoption of a results-oriented culture that promotes the tangible realization of the adopted human rights policies across the relevant institutions in the country. 76. It is important and necessary that the Independent Expert sustains this engagement with the Government of the Sudan in order to ensure sustainability of the progress made and further improve the human rights situation in the country. 77. Based on the above assessments and conclusions on the human rights situation in the Sudan, the Independent Expert makes the following recommendations: A. Recommendations to the Government of the Sudan 78. The Government of the Sudan, with the support of the international community, should: (a) Sustain the progress made so far in its effort to improve the human rights situation in the Sudan and continue with the implementation of the UPR recommendations, with particular focus on realizing practical human rights improvements in the country; (b) Publish, at the end of 2013, a report on the practical results achieved from the implementation of the UPR recommendations in the three priority areas, namely, administration of justice, law reform and ratification of identified international human rights treaties; (c) Establish a high-level committee to oversee the implementation of the recently adopted national action plan for the protection of human rights in the Sudan; (d) Cease arbitrary curtailment of the activities of civil organizations, press censorship and all arbitrary arrests and detentions; society (e) Pursue the constitutional and political process in a transparent and inclusive manner, and foster an atmosphere of fair and peaceful political participation in preparation for the next elections in the country; (f) Ensure full respect for the right to freedom of religion without discrimination; (g) Amend the 2010 National Security Act to ensure that the powers of the National Security Service to arrest and detain persons do not usurp the legitimate role of the police and are in conformity with the Sudan’s international human rights obligations; (h) Uphold the guarantee of the rights of women and children contained in the interim constitution and take the necessary steps to quickly ratify the Convention 18