The United Nations Experts Group on Darfur today announced that on 24 May it held consultations with high-level representatives of the Government of Sudan to identify practical steps to improve the human rights situation in Darfur.
The Group, established by resolution A/HRC/4/8 of the Human Rights Council on 30 March 2007, concluded its second consultative meeting in Geneva from 23 to 25 May 2007. The Group is tasked to work with the Government of Sudan to ensure the effective follow-up and to foster the implementation of resolutions and recommendations on Darfur, as adopted by the Human Rights Council, the Commission on Human Rights and other United Nations human rights institutions, as well as to promote the implementation of relevant recommendations of other United Nations human rights mechanisms.
The Group welcomed the positive approach taken by the Government of Sudan and specific proposals made by the Government. While there was common understanding on several important steps to improve the human rights situation in Darfur that could be implemented in the future, further dialogue would be pursued on other issues.
The United Nations Experts Group on Darfur is to report to the fifth session of the Human Rights Council on 13 June 2007. The Group is chaired by Ms. Sima Samar, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Sudan. Other members of the Group are Ms. Hina Jilani, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights defenders; Ms. Yakin Erturk, Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences; Mr. Manfred Nowak, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict; Mr. Walter Kalin, Representative of the Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced persons; and Philip Alston, Special Rapporteur on extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary executions (who was unable to attend the meeting).