The mandate of the UNMIS Human Rights Office is derived from the UN Security Council's Resolution 1590, which called for ensuring an adequate human rights presence, and expertise within UNMIS to carry out human rights promotion, civilian protection and monitoring activities.

The UNMIS Human Rights Office falls under the responsibility of the Principal Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, and also maintains links with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva . The UNMIS Human Rights Office is present throughout Sudan with offices in Darfur (El-Fasher, Nyala, El-Geneina and Zalingei), in the transitional areas (Abyei and Kadugli), in Eastern Sudan (Kassala) and in Southern Sudan ( Juba ). The UNMIS Human Rights Office plans to extend its activities to other parts of Sudan with human rights officers to be deployed in UNMIS offices in Rumbek, Malakal, Wau and El Damazin.

The role of the UNMIS Human Rights Office is to:

• Investigate, monitor and report on human rights violations in Darfur, in an impartial manner, and recommend corrective actions to the Government of Sudan.
• Assess the human rights situation in the South and the rest of Sudan and submit reports to the mission as part of its efforts to support the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
• Support the establishment and strengthening of a National Commission on Human Rights, as required by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
• Monitor the police, prosecution and judiciary responsible for ensuring accountability for human rights abuses at the local and national level.
• Visit and monitor places of detention to follow up specific cases, with a focus on the legality of detentions and ill-treatment and/or torture of detained persons.
• Coordinate and collaborate in human rights related policy and operational activities within UNMIS and with UN Agencies.
• Work closely with the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) on human rights related activities.
• Contribute to the strengthening of human rights and the rule of law through the provision of legal advice and assistance in the drafting of legislation.
• Support the capacity building and empowerment of Sudanese civil society actors in the area of human rights.

National Human Rights Commission

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement called for the formation of 12 key commissions, including a National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). UNMIS Human Rights meets regularly with the Advisory Council for Human Rights to discuss the status of the NHRC, which has yet to be established. As of May 2006, the law relating to the establishment of the NHRC was at its final drafting stage at the Ministry of Justice.

UNMIS Human Rights has been working with civil society groups to ensure they are engaged in the drafting and preparation of the law establishing the NHRC and that they have an ongoing role in the establishment and functioning of the NHRC. NGO involvement in this process is necessary to ensure the independence of the NHRC in accordance with the Paris Principles relating to the status of national institutions on human rights.

An NGO committee on the NHRC has been formed, and UNMIS HR is also helping to organize workshops with NGOs and the Advisory Council for Human Rights to facilitate communication between the government and civil society on issues regarding the establishment of the NHRC.

Alternative Reporting under the ICCPR

As a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Sudan has periodic human rights reporting obligations. While a national Human Rights Committee has been issuing these reports, UNMIS Human Rights has been working with civil society groups to provide guidance on the preparation of "alternative" reports under the ICCPR. UNMIS Human Rights has provided training for members of civil society on the preparation of such alternative reports. In addition, UNMIS Human Rights has been involved in establishing a forum for consultation between the government and civil society regarding reporting under the ICCPR.

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