A/HRC/9/13 page 5 on 30 June 2003, and the deadline for the third periodic report was 30 June 2008. In addition to the reports due under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the follow-up report to the 2007 concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee is due on 1 August 2008. The overdue 12th to 16th periodic reports to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination have been due every two years since 20 April 2002 and the report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict was due on 26 August 2007. 10. In June and July 2008, UNMIS human rights section, in cooperation with the Advisory Council on Human Rights of the Government of Sudan (ACHR) and the Ministry of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development (MOLACD), organized workshops in Khartoum and Juba on obligations to implement and report under the international human rights treaties ratified by Sudan. Special attention was given to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in view of the expressed decision of the Government of the Sudan to complete its report on implementation of this treaty. The workshop also covered the treaties that had not been ratified by the Sudan, to advance the discussion about the implications of ratifying them. The workshop concluded with the development of a list of recommendations on the matter. B. National framework, institutions and reforms 11. Some progress has been made in implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) during the reporting period. With regard to the national legal framework, according to information provided by the Legislative Committee of the National Assembly, by July 2008 59 new bills had been passed by the National Assembly and other bills had been presented. The laws passed include, amongst others, the Armed Forces Act, the Criminal Procedure Act, the Elections Act, the Joint Integrated Units Act, the National Civil Service Act, the Police Forces Act and the Political Parties Act. 12. The Elections Act was passed on 7 July 2008 and was signed into law by the President on 14 July 2008. According to information received, the Act allocated 40 per cent of seats for proportional representation to enable a better representation for small parties and regional groups; 60 per cent of seats were designated for geographical constituents; and 25 per cent of seats were allocated for women who may also compete for other seats. The Act also provides for the establishment of an electoral commission. 13. Amongst the laws not reformed or passed are those governing the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) and establishing the national human rights commission. According to the Government these are subject to extensive consultations and scheduled to be passed during the next session of the National Assembly commencing in October 2008. During previous missions to the Sudan the Special Rapporteur was informed that these laws will be passed but there has been no progress. The Special Rapporteur urges the authorities to prioritize these laws in the interest of improving the human rights situation in the country. 14. The revised amended version of the 2004 Child Act was finalized by the Legal Reform Committee and forwarded to the Cabinet of Ministers for review and endorsement. The Special Rapporteur is pleased to note that the bill defines a child as a person who has not yet reached the