A/HRC/27/69
in the conflict areas, lack of security, general escalation of crime, and the impunity of some
offenders were also mentioned as serious human rights issues in the State.
10.
In East Darfur the Independent Expert met with the Deputy Governor of the State
and members of his cabinet, the Humanitarian Affairs Commission officers in the State, the
Chief Prosecutor, and civil society organizations. East Darfur is a new State where poverty
and underdevelopment have had an adverse impact on the human rights situation. There is
an urgent need to promote economic and social rights in the State, to alleviate poverty and
enhance the protection of human rights. Civil society groups in the State complained about
the poor human rights situation, and the lack of an independent human rights office in East
Darfur. This concerned the need for the establishment of branch offices of the National
Commission for Human Rights at the grass-roots level. The Independent Expert has advised
the human rights section of UNAMID in El-Daein, the State capital, to enhance its
collaboration with local civil society groups in the State, pending the establishment of a
branch office of the Commission in East Darfur. There is a large number of IDPs in East
Darfur and the Independent Expert was informed that a village for IDP returnees, with
facilities to encourage voluntary returns, was being developed near El-Daein with funding
from the Government of Qatar.
11.
In Central Darfur the Independent Expert met the Governor of the State and
members of his Cabinet, the Chief Prosecutor and the Speaker of the House of Assembly of
the State. He also visited the Zalingei prison to inspect the facilities and conditions of the
inmates. The situation in the male section of the prison was deplorable. The inmates
complained about lack of water and poor sanitary conditions. There were a few apparently
under-aged inmates in the prison and an inmate who had been awaiting trial for 33 months.
There was also a young inmate who was held in shackles inside a cell. The female section
of the prison had, however, been well refurbished to a reasonable standard with the
assistance of international aid agencies. The Independent Expert raised concerns about the
deplorable condition of the male section of the Zalingei prison and urged the Government
to improve the conditions there. Central Darfur State further suffers from the problem of
armed conflicts, which continues to affect the human rights of civilians. There are a great
number of IDPs and very large IDP camps in the State, some of which are infiltrated by
members of armed movements and are, thus, a potential source of conflict.
12.
The problem of unexploded ordnances exists across the five Darfur States and as a
result there have been reports of civilian casualties. The Independent Expert received a
briefing on ordnance disposal operations conducted by UNAMID in different parts of
Darfur in June 2014, and commends UNAMID for its efforts in that regard. Recorded
crimes and general insecurity are still very high in Darfur.
South Kordofan
13.
In South Kordofan, the Independent Expert met the Governor and other senior
officials of the State. He also held meetings with the legislative assembly of South
Kordofan, tribal leaders from the Greater Kadugli locality, the Chief Prosecutor of the
State, United Nations agencies, international aid organizations, civil society organizations
and human rights defenders operating in the State. He had discussions with the different
interlocutors about the human rights challenges in the State. The Governor expressed
concerns about rebel attacks there and highlighted the need for peace for the realization of
human rights in the State.
14.
South Kordofan State has adopted a social peace initiative through which members
of armed movements who voluntarily laid down their arms were given amnesty and reabsorbed into their former posts in the civil service of the State. The State is collaborating
with UNDP for the practical realization of human rights through development projects in
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