A/HRC/33/8 grass-roots level. The national dialogue process disclosed a strong collective desire towards keeping the current constitutional Bill of Rights, but with more improvements. 16. The Sudan was working on implementing recommendations concerning accession to international and regional human rights instruments. It acceded to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, in 2014, and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo Protocol), in 2013. Studies on the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol) have been completed and the ratification of the two instruments has been initiated within the legislative process. Different societal views surround the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, therefore the State decided to allow for more dialogue among community components, noting that existing legal and institutional frameworks ensured adequate protection and empowerment for women. 17. A legal reform process was initiated in 2011 and 52 new laws have been promulgated further promoting human rights, including the following: Human Trafficking Act 2014, Right to Information Act 2015, Educational Professions Act 2014, Asylum Act 2014, Mining and Mineral Wealth Act 2015, Elections (Amendment) Act 2014, Transparency, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Act 2016, Health Insurance Act 2016, Ombudsman Act 2015 and Criminal (Amendment) Act 2015. 18. The following were under review by competent committees constituted by the Minister of Justice: Press and Publications Act 2009, National Security Act 2010, Criminal Act 1991, Criminal Procedures Act 1991, Evidence Act 1993, Civil Procedure Act 1983 and draft Social Control (Khartoum State) Act 2011. About 60 other laws have been listed for review within the framework of the legal reform programme. Bills on prevention of racial discrimination, compatible with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and on eradication of female genital mutilation have been prepared and were scheduled for the legislative process. 19. The members of the National Human Rights Commission were appointed in 2012 and its executive structure and an independent budget have been adopted. The law establishing the Commission was under review for further reform. Other institutions have been developed or revitalized, including the Judicial and Legal Sciences Institute, the Ombudsman, the National Committee for Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism, the National Committee for Combating Human Trafficking and the High-level Coordinating Mechanism for the Implementation of the Action Plan for the Protection of Children in Armed Conflict, signed by the Government and the United Nations. 20. The Regional Ministerial Conference on Human Trafficking and Smuggling in the Horn of Africa was held in Khartoum in October 2014. The declaration of the Khartoum process initiated at that conference was subsequently adopted in Rome in November 2014. 21. The second phase (2012-2017) of the implementation of the National Strategy (2007-2031) and the National Plan for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights (2013-2023) was progressing as planned, with an assessment and a review. 22. Some challenges hindering the full enjoyment and implementation of human rights had been encountered, despite efforts made to overcome them. The main challenge was the unilateral coercive measures imposed since 1997, which have resulted in losses amounting to $1,500 billion. The measures have had devastating effects on the enjoyment of human rights, particularly by vulnerable groups. The rights to health, education, water and sanitation, food, transport and other rights have been seriously impaired. GE.16-11829 5