A/HRC/7/22 page 2 Summary The report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, Sima Samar, is submitted in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 6/34, in which the Council decided to extend for one year the mandate of the Special Rapporteur, in accordance with Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/82. The present report updates the previous one (A/62/354) submitted to the General Assembly and covers the period from September to December 2007. Protection of human rights in the Sudan continues to be an enormous challenge. Some slow progress has been made, in particular with regard to drafting of new bills, issuance of orders and new policies; however, they have not yet had an effect on the situation. Many of the concerns highlighted in the previous report remain the same, one year on. Despite the potential for democratic transition and optimism created by the Interim National Constitution and the Bill of Rights, violations of civil and political rights remain widespread. Delays in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement continue to hamper the protection and promotion of human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights. The Special Rapporteur is particularly concerned by the situation of women’s rights. In spite of constitutional provisions guaranteeing equal protection by the law and equality before the law, women continue to be considered second-class citizens. Early and forced marriages, violence against women and female genital mutilation are still widely practised. Furthermore, women are frequently placed in detention facilities for lack of payment of dowry, family debts, acts committed by family members or on adultery charges. Women are underrepresented in Government institutions, and in positions of leadership in general. In all parts of the country, common patterns of injustice, marginalization and exploitation are emerging. Impunity also remains a serious concern in all areas. The Special Rapporteur calls on the Government of National Unity and the Government of Southern Sudan to investigate all reports of human rights violations with transparency, make the reports of the investigative committees public, bring the perpetrators to justice, provide reparations to victims and promote the rule of law. She urges the authorities to cooperate fully with the International Criminal Court. The Special Rapporteur expresses her concern at the repression of fundamental rights and freedoms, the excessive use of force, arbitrary arrest and detention, torture and ill-treatment of human rights defenders and political opponents. She urges the Government to fulfil its obligations in accordance with international human rights law and international humanitarian law and to ensure that all people of the Sudan are able to enjoy their fundamental rights and freedoms, including political rights in view of the elections scheduled for 2009. Lastly, the Special Rapporteur notes that measures taken by the Government of Southern Sudan to strengthen the administration of justice remain inadequate in the light of the thousands of cases of people in pretrial detention. A considerable number of detainees is held in detention and prison facilities for extensive periods without their cases being reviewed and without receiving any kind of legal assistance.