A/HRC/27/69 Expert urges the international community to assist UNDP with the necessary funds to enable it to continue supporting the Government in that regard. 26. The Government has established a National Committee for the implementation of its 10-year National Action Plan for the Protection of Human Rights, as recommended by the Independent Expert. It is now in the process of creating State and local committees for coordinating the implementation of the Action Plan at the grass-roots level. A human rights adviser has also been assigned to the Minister of Education to advise on the inclusion of human rights in the educational curriculum, with a high-level committee established in the Ministry of Education to monitor the implementation of the Action Plan at national level. The Ministry has requested technical expertise from the international community to take that process forward. The Independent Expert commends that positive step by the Government and urges the international community to support the Ministry with technical assistance in that regard. Inculcating human rights into the educational curriculum in the Sudan is imperative for the future and long-term integration of a human rights culture in the society. 27. Regarding steps taken on the Independent Expert’s recommendation for transparency and inclusiveness in the country’s constitutional and political process, the Government referred to the reform agenda presented by the President of Sudan in January 2014 proposing a national dialogue including all political groups. This was followed by a presidential decree in April 2014 providing for the release of political detainees, permitting political parties to operate freely and guaranteeing freedom of the press. However, two front-line opposition political party leaders were regrettably arrested and detained in May and June 2014 for making public statements considered by the Government as crossing set “red lines”. The arrests had a negative impact on the national dialogue process, casting public doubt on the Government’s sincerity towards that initiative. The Independent Expert raised concerns about that drawback and urged the Government to guarantee essential civil liberties to facilitate an enabling environment for a meaningful national dialogue and political process. 28. In response to the Independent Expert’s recommendation that the Government should ensure that its armed forces complied fully with humanitarian laws in their engagement with rebel forces, the Government claimed that it had a duty to defend the State against the armed movements which had been targeting the security of the State and attacking civilians in cities and villages. Nevertheless, the Government has an obligation to abide by the principle of proportionality in its armed response to attacks by the armed movements and avoid indiscriminate killing or displacement of civilian populations. 29. There is no mention of steps taken by the Government in respect of other recommendations of the Independent Expert such as: (a) amend the 2010 National Security Act to ensure that the powers of the National Intelligence and Security Service are in conformity with international human rights obligations of the Sudan; (b) cease arbitrary curtailment of the activities of civil society organizations, press censorship and arbitrary arrests and detentions; (c) fully respect the right to freedom of religion without discrimination; (d) uphold the guarantee of the rights of women and children, and take necessary steps to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The Government should take the necessary steps to implement all the remaining recommendations. 30. Regarding the Independent Expert’s recommendation to the international community for technical assistance to the Sudan, it is encouraging to note the recent decision of the European Union to enhance its support for projects relating to peacebuilding in the Sudan over the next three years. The Independent Expert also acknowledges the support provided within the reporting period to the Sudan by other international entities, such as UNAMID and UNDP, as outlined in section VII below. 8