A/RES/54/182 Page 2 Recalling its previous resolutions on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 1999/15 of 23 April 1999,6 Aware of the urgent need to implement effective measures in the field of human rights and humanitarian relief to protect the civilian population from the effects of armed conflicts, Welcoming the Peace Agreement of 1997, the acceptance of the Declaration of Principles as a basis for negotiations, the declaration by the Government of the Sudan of a comprehensive ceasefire on 5 April 1999 and the decision made by the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army to extend the ceasefire in the Bahr elGhazal region in southern Sudan for a further three months, while at the same time deeply concerned at the impact of the continuing conflict in the Sudan between the Government of the Sudan and the Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement/Army on the situation of human rights and at the disregard by all parties to the conflict of relevant rules of international humanitarian law, Expressing its firm belief that progress towards a peaceful settlement of the conflict in southern Sudan within the peace initiative of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development will greatly contribute to the creation of a better environment to encourage respect for human rights in the Sudan, Condemning the murder of four Sudanese relief workers in April 1999 while in the custody of the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army, 1. Welcomes: (a) The interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Sudan;7 (b) The visit by the Special Rapporteur to the Sudan in February 1999 at the invitation of the Government of the Sudan and the excellent cooperation extended by the Government in this regard, as well as the stated willingness of the Government to continue to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur and the invitation extended to the Special Rapporteur; (c) The visit by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict to the Sudan in March 1999 and the cooperation extended by the Government of the Sudan in this regard; (d) The cooperation extended by the Government of the Sudan to the needs assessment mission of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, which took place from 14 to 26 September 1999; (e) The fact-finding mission by the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression in September 1999, pursuant to the invitation extended by the Government of the Sudan; 6 See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1999, Supplement No. 3 (E/1999/23), chap. II, sect. A. 7 A/54/467, annex. /...