A/HRC/24/31 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 21/27 in which the Council renewed the mandate of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan and requested him to continue his engagement with the Government of the Sudan with a view to implementing the projects that would further help the Sudan to fulfil its human rights obligations, and to report to the Council at its twentyfourth session. The Council also urged the Government of the Sudan to grant the Independent Expert access to the entire country, in particular Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile, in order to verify and assess the human rights situation therein and to determine technical assistance needs. 2. This report covers the period from October 2012 to July 2013 and contains recommendations addressed to the Government of the Sudan, the international community, civil society organizations and the armed movements in the Sudan. 3. In compliance with the code of conduct for special procedures mandate holders of the Human Rights Council, a draft of the report was shared with the Government of the Sudan to provide it with the opportunity to comment on the findings and observations of the Independent Expert. 4. The Independent Expert would like to thank the Government of the Sudan for its continued cooperation and support in the implementation of his mandate. During the reporting period, the Government granted access and facilitated the Independent Expert’s visit to Darfur, North Kordofan and Blue Nile. The Government also facilitated access to all officials with whom the Independent Expert had expressed the wish to meet, and to all institutions and places necessary for the discharge of his mandate. However, for security reasons, the Independent Expert was unable to visit South Kordofan state. 5. The Independent Expert also expresses his gratitude to the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), United Nations agencies operating in the Sudan, members of the diplomatic community, civil society organizations and all other groups and individuals who provided assistance, information and shared experiences with him. II. Methodology and approach 6. The Independent Expert undertook two missions to the Sudan during the reporting period and visited Khartoum, North and South Darfur, North Kordofan and Blue Nile states. During these visits, he focused on assessing the effectiveness of institutions responsible for promoting and protecting human rights and the rule of law, including the National Commission for Human Rights, the National Legislature, the judiciary, law enforcement agencies and civil society organizations, in order to determine their technical assistance needs in the field of human rights. 7. In Khartoum, the Independent Expert held wide-ranging discussions with senior Government officials, including the Minister of Justice, the Minister of the Interior and the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was apprised of the human rights situation in the country by the Rapporteur and members of the Advisory Council for Human Rights (ACHR) and was encouraged by their response to some of the issues he raised. He also had frank and fruitful discussions with the Director of the National Security Service (NSS) and the Deputy Director General of Police. He interacted with the Chief Justice and members of the Supreme Court, the Chairwoman and members of the National Commission for Human Rights, members of the National Press Council and the Unit for 3