A/RES/50/197 Page 3 Gravely alarmed that since February 1994 there have been increasing reports from a wide variety of sources indicating that atrocities by the Government of the Sudan against the local population in the area of the Nuba Mountains have intensified, Concerned by reports of religious persecution in areas of the conflict zone controlled by the Government of the Sudan and of discrimination based upon religion in the provision of shelter and relief, Deeply concerned by the Special Rapporteur’s conclusion that the abduction of persons, mainly women and children, belonging to ethnic and religious minorities from southern Sudan, the Nuba Mountains and the Ingessana Hills area, and their subjection to the slave trade, servitude and forced labour are taking place with the knowledge of the Government of the Sudan, 8/ Also deeply concerned about the problem of unaccompanied minors and the use of children as soldiers by all parties despite repeated calls from the international community to put an end to this practice, as described in the report of the Special Rapporteur, Recognizing the fact that the Sudan has been hosting large numbers of refugees from several neighbouring countries over the past three decades, Welcoming the release of some of the political prisoners by the Government of the Sudan in August 1995, and noting its recent announcement of open, free and fair elections in 1996, Also welcoming the efforts of the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations to provide humanitarian relief to those Sudanese in need, Further welcoming the dialogues and contacts between non-governmental organizations and the religious minorities in the Sudan, aimed at developing a more balanced relationship between the Government of the Sudan and the religious minority groups, 1. Expresses deep concern at the serious, widespread and continuing human rights violations in the Sudan, including extrajudicial killings and summary executions; detentions without due process; forced displacement of persons; enforced or involuntary disappearances; torture and other forms of cruel and unusual punishment; slavery, practices similar to slavery and forced labour; and denial of the freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly; 2. Urges the Government of the Sudan to investigate without delay the cases of slavery, servitude, slave trade, forced labour and similar practices brought to its attention and to take all appropriate measures to put an immediate end to these practices; 3. Takes note with appreciation of the interim report of the Special Rapporteur; 8/ Ibid., para. 75. /...