A/HRC/18/2 565. As an example, the delegation mentioned that, in the field of constitutional and legal reforms, by law, the human rights conventions to which the Sudan was a party were considered an integral part of the Constitution. The Sudan had conducted a comprehensive review of a large number of laws to bring them into compliance with the Constitution, human rights conventions and international humanitarian law. A full chapter on war crimes and crimes against humanity and genocide had been added to the Criminal Act of 1991; the detention period had been reduced in the Law of National Intelligence and Security Services of 2009; a judicial oversight had been established; and a general prosecutor had been appointed to follow up on guarantees of the human rights of detainees. 566. The delegation highlighted new laws, such as the Child Act of 2010 raising the age of criminal responsibility to 12 years from 7, preventing corporal punishment for child offenders and, more strictly, the application of the death penalty to persons under the age of 18. In 2007, the Sudan had also passed a new law for the armed forces, which included a number of principles contained in international humanitarian law providing special protection for civilians, including women and children, and establishing individual responsibility in war crimes and cases of crimes against humanity. Consultations to approve a permanent constitution had begun, involving the whole political spectrum, academics and jurists representing all segments of society. 567. The delegation referred to the signing of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur. The implementation of that agreement had begun with a ceasefire, the return of the signatories to the Sudan and the formation of joint committees for its enforcement. According to a statement of the joint special representative of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, the security and humanitarian situation in Darfur in the past three years had led to the return of more than 1 million displaced people to their towns and villages. Efforts for justice in Darfur did not stop at the negotiations and the signing of agreements. An office of the Special Prosecutor for Darfur had been established in order to bring to justice those accused of crimes since the outbreak of the conflict. The Government of the Sudan was making great efforts to promote tribal reconciliation, which had a significant role to play in sustaining peace and stability in the region. 568. The Sudan informed the Human Rights Council that it had taken a number of national measures to protect women, particularly in conflict zones, and had approved a national plan of action to combat violence against women and created a central unit for combating violence against women, with subcommittees at the State level, including Darfur. 569. The Sudan stated that the recommendations that had not been accepted related to topics that did not fall under the Sudan’s human rights treaty obligations. It had accepted other recommendations based on inaccurate assumptions following some corrections, but it was difficult to follow such an approach in all cases. 570. The Sudan had already started to implement a number of recommendations in cooperation with national and international partners, and urged the Human Rights Council to support the Sudan in this endeavour. 571. The delegation concluded by reiterating the willingness of the Government of the Sudan to cooperate fully with the Human Rights Council. 2. Views expressed by South Sudan on the recommendations and/or conclusions, its voluntary commitments and the outcome 572. The delegation of South Sudan welcomed the work of the independent expert, his report and the call upon the parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement to resolve their differences over remaining issues through negotiations and dialogue. 164 GE.12-17756