A/HRC/18/2 the Sudan had reiterated its commitment to cooperate with the Council and approved the majority of the recommendations received during the review, including those made by Qatar. The Government had shown great interest in the recommendations, as they had been incorporated into a comprehensive national human rights plan. Qatar had a great interest in the security and stability of the Sudan; it had therefore sponsored the negotiations of the Sudan and the armed movements in Darfur, which led to the signing of the Darfur peace agreement, in July 2011. Qatar called on the Council and the international community to support the Sudan’s efforts, building on the steps that had been already taken and in accordance with the vision and national priorities of the Sudanese people. 4. General comments made by other relevant stakeholders 598. Comité international pour le respect et l’application de la Charte africaine des droits de l’homme et des peuples recalled that the Sudan was committed to the promotion of peace and reconciliation by, in particular, the Abuja and Doha agreements. The holding of free elections in 2010 and of the self-determination referendum confirmed this commitment. However, challenges in the area of human rights remained, particularly in South Kordofan, Abyei and Darfur. The international community should support the various ongoing human rights-related reforms. The independence of South Sudan was a major improvement, but should not further jeopardize peace in the Great Lakes region. It called upon the international community and the Human Rights Council to provide the Sudan and South Sudan with assistance. 599. The Eastern Sudan Women Development Organization stated that it worked in all parts of the Sudan, and that it would work towards the reunification of the Sudan on the basis of justice and equality, despite the referendum that had led to the secession of South Sudan. It did not want to see new secessions and valued the Doha agreement, which it considered a step towards peace and stability in Darfur. It called upon the international community to apply pressure to armed groups to abide by the Doha agreement and to provide financial and technical assistance to Darfur, in the interests of peace and stability. 600. The Child Development Foundation and the International Peace and Development Organization stated that women leaders were present at all political and economic levels, such as in Parliament and the judiciary. On the initiative of civil society, legislation had been enacted in the Sudan to provide women with all rights included in the international instruments ratified by the Sudan. Civil society had participated in the drafting of the 2010 Child Act. The work of civil society in the fields of children and women rights needed technical and financial support. 601. The Sudan Council of Voluntary Agencies commended the Sudan for the improvements in the freedom of the press, as reflected in the number of political parties and independent newspapers. The National Council of the Press had, however, wide powers, and the organization called for ordinary trials for journalists. While supporting the Child Act and the establishment of child courts and of the National Council for Children, it called on the Sudan to raise awareness of children’s rights and to support non-governmental organizations dealing with such rights. It commended the efforts made in the universal periodic review process, but underlined the need to enforce the implementation of recommendations and to support non-governmental organizations. 602. The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies stated that the humanitarian crisis in the Sudan continued and was escalating. Barely a week after its universal periodic review, on 21 May 2011, the Government had led a military campaign on Abyei. The armed forces bombed four villages, indiscriminately shooting at civilians and displacing the entire population of the town, estimated at 60,000. It noted that, in the Sudan’s presentation to the Human Rights Council, it declared the completion of consultations in South Kordofan and Blue Nile, claiming that these provinces now enjoyed security, stability and development. 168 GE.12-17756