A/HRC/6/19 page 8 status of its implementation. Subsequently, the Government submitted a set of draft laws and orders relating to the police and armed forces for the group’s consideration as well as a number of documents containing information on pertinent issues the group had requested (see annex II). 15. On 15 November, the group met for the third time since the beginning of its mandate with a high-level inter-ministerial delegation of the Government of the Sudan from Khartoum and representatives from the Permanent Mission of the Sudan to the United Nations in Geneva to discuss the state of implementation of recommendations and to clarify outstanding issues.1 The following day, the group met to take account of the Government’s update and to prepare the present report. 16. The group of experts expresses its appreciation to the Government of the Sudan for its ongoing cooperation in submitting information in both written and oral form to the group in a timely fashion, for the very open and constructive dialogue with the high-level inter-ministerial delegation and representatives from the Permanent Mission of the Sudan to the United Nations Office at Geneva, and for its willingness to respond to the group’s questions and requests for further clarification. The group appreciates the efforts made by the Government to also provide information on recommendations that were not explicitly listed as accepted in the first report (A/HRC/5/6, para. 26). The group feels that the process of cooperative engagement with the Government, from a procedural point of view, has worked well. 17. The group of experts also thanks UNMIS, United Nations agencies in New York and Geneva and other actors, including non-governmental organizations, which provided information on the current status of implementation of recommendations according to the time frames and indicators specified by the group of experts in its first report. It also appreciates the cooperation provided by the African Union and its human rights mechanisms. IV. STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS A. Human rights protection 1. Protection of the civilian population, including internally displaced persons 18. Regarding the protection of the civilian population, the group of experts had proposed that the Government of the Sudan issue and enforce clear orders to the armed forces and any militias 1 The inter-ministerial delegation of the Government of the Sudan was led by Mr. Abdeldaiem Zumrawi, Under- Secretary for Justice. The delegation also comprised Dr. Abdelmuniem Osman Taha, Rapporteur of the Advisory Council on Human Rights at the Ministry of Justice; Dr. Hassabo Mohamed Abdelrahman, Commissioner for Humanitarian Assistance; Brigadier General Hassan Hamid, Ministry of Defence; and Mr. Muddathir Abdelrahim of the National Intelligence and Security Service. They were accompanied by members of the Permanent Mission of the Sudan to the United Nations in Geneva: Ambassador Ibrahim Mirghani Ibrahim Mohamed Kheir, Permanent Representative; Ambassador Omer Dahab; Ambassador Rahma Salih Elobeid; Mr. Salah Elmubarak and Mrs. Iqbal Iss-hag.