A/HRC/6/19
page 5
I. INTRODUCTION
1.
Arising out of its deep concern over the ongoing violations of human rights and
international humanitarian law in Darfur, the Human Rights Council adopted without a vote at its
fourth regular session, on 30 March 2007, resolution 4/8 on the follow-up to decision S-4/101
of 13 December 2006 adopted by the Council, at its fourth special session, entitled “Situation of
human rights in Darfur”.
2.
In its resolution 4/8, the Council decided to convene a group of seven mandate holders to
work with the Government of the Sudan, the appropriate human rights mechanisms of the
African Union and to closely consult with the Chairman of the Darfur-Darfur Dialogue and
Consultation to ensure the effective follow-up and to foster the implementation of resolutions
and recommendations on Darfur, as adopted by the 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, taking into
account the needs of the Sudan in this regard, to safeguard the consistency of these
recommendations and to contribute to monitoring the human rights situation on the ground.
3.
The group of experts is presided over by Sima Samar, Special Rapporteur on the situation
of human rights in the Sudan, and is composed of Philip Alston, Special Rapporteur on
extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Radhika Coomaraswamy, Special Representative
of the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict; Yakin Ertürk, Special Rapporteur on
violence against women, its causes and consequences; Hina Jilani, Special Representative of the
Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders; Walter Kälin, Representative of
the Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced persons; and Manfred Nowak,
Special Rapporteur on the question of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment. Mr. Kälin serves as rapporteur for the group of experts. The group of experts was
serviced mainly by the Africa Unit of the Capacity-building Branch, the Special Procedures
Branch, and a coordinator.
4.
The group of experts recalls that it interprets its mandate as one aimed at ensuring effective
follow-up to and fostering the implementation of relevant resolutions and recommendations on
Darfur through a process of facilitation and dialogue with the Government of the Sudan.
5.
In its first report (A/HRC/5/6), submitted to the Human Rights Council on 8 June 2007, the
group of experts expressed its concerns regarding the human rights situation in Darfur addressed
by the Council in resolution 4/8; identified priority areas for implementation; listed a number of
specific recommendations to be implemented in the short or medium term and identified as
particularly relevant for improving the human rights situation in Darfur; and urged the
Government of the Sudan to implement without delay the recommendations it committed itself
to put into practice (A/HRC/5/6, para. 26) and to continue its dialogue with the group of experts
on the implementation of the group’s other recommendations. Annexed to the report was a
compilation of recommendations, including relevant time frames and indicators for assessing
implementation.
6.
In its resolution OM/1/3, adopted on 20 June 2006, the Council requested the group of
experts to continue its work for six months and to submit an update to the session of the Council
in September 2007 and a final report to the following session of the Council. In its interim report