106 INTERNATIONAL LEGAL PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN ARMED CONFLICT law and international human rights law vis-à-vis the civilian populations in both Israel and the [Occupied Palestinian Territory].”159 Concerning the situation in the Sudan, the High Commissioner called on all parties to the conflict to “respect their obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law and implement their obligations under all relevant Security Council resolutions and ceasefire agreements”.160 Similarly, she appealed publicly to both parties to the conflict in Nepal “not to repeat the gross violations of international humanitarian law and human rights perpetrated during previous phases of the conflict.”161 Regarding Colombia, she urged “the Government, illegal armed groups and civil society at large to give priority to full respect for human rights and international humanitarian law.”162 F.  TREATY BODIES AND SPECIAL PROCEDURES Independent United Nations human rights experts, working in treaty bodies or as the holders of country or thematic special procedure mandates of the Human Rights Council, regularly refer to obligations of international human rights and humanitarian law in armed conflict. Their reports and recommendations help to identify and sometimes prevent violations in armed conflict. Their findings and outputs have been referred to in decisions of the International Court of Justice. For example, in its judgment on the Armed Activities on the Territory of the Congo, the Court considered the report of the Special Rapporteur on the Democratic Republic of the Congo in its findings of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. In its advisory opinion on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall the Court reiterated the Human Rights Committee’s interpretation that the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is binding on   A/HRC/8/17, para. 4.   “Ninth periodic report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Sudan”, 20 March 2008. Available from www. ohchr.org/EN/Countries/AfricaRegion/Pages/SDPeriodicReports.aspx (accessed 30 June 2011). 161   E/CN.4/2006/107, para. 18. 162   A/HRC/10/32, para. 98. 159 160