A/HRC/28/49 Development (IGAD)-mediated negotiations in Ethiopia concluded on 5 October 2014 after exhaustive discussions between the parties on the form of the proposed transitional government of national unity and the roles and responsibilities of participants in such a government. While the President, Salva Kiir, and the rebel leader, Riek Machar, agreed to form a transitional government of national unity in their 9 May cessation of hostilities agreement, both have yet to make the compromises necessary for this to happen. Following an IGAD Heads of State and Government summit in Addis Ababa in November, the parties were granted 15 days to consult with their constituents on the structure of the transitional government. 18. On 24 November 2014, the Government organized a national delegates’ conference in Juba to discuss the IGAD negotiations. The delegates concluded that executive power during the transition period should consist of an executive president, a vice-president and a non-executive prime minister. In early December, SPLM/A in Opposition organized its consultative conference in Upper Nile State and affirmed that the transitional government should have a president as the ceremonial head of State, and an executive prime minister. As at December, there was still no agreement between the two parties on the composition of a transitional government. The Government has affirmed its intention to proceed with elections scheduled for June 2015 if there was a failure to reach a peace agreement. 19. The parties opened a parallel negotiating track in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, where an intra-SPLM dialogue was held from 12 to 18 October 2014. The negotiations involved representatives of SPLM, SPLM/A in Opposition and SPLM former detainees (high-level SPLM officials who had been detained by the Government, but had subsequently been released). On 20 October, the various SPLM factions signed a framework agreement committing themselves to intra-party democracy, reconciliation and healing. In an accompanying communiqué, the parties acknowledged a collective responsibility for the crisis in South Sudan and said that the crisis must be urgently brought to an end by the SPLM leadership through genuine and honest dialogue. The framework document made it clear that the Arusha process was separate and distinct from the IGAD mediation, but recognized that the two processes were mutually reinforcing. E. Legislative developments 20. During the reporting period, several steps were taken towards the development of a legal framework supporting the promotion and protection of human rights. The National Legislative Assembly passed a bill for the ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. On 3 September 2014, the Assembly ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and on 1 October it ratified the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. However, the instruments of ratification have not been deposited with the United Nations. 21. On 8 October 2014, the National Legislative Assembly approved the national security bill which, if enacted into law, would give security forces wide-ranging authority to detain and arrest people without safeguards of due process. The bill was pending review and awaiting presidential assent amidst concerns regarding its compatibility with the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011. Three media laws adopted by the Assembly in November 2013, reportedly to shield media practitioners from harassment, censorship and intimidation, were signed into law in November 2014. 7