On 4 May 2016, Sudan's human rights records were reviewed at the occasion of the second cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). Many States raised similar concerns to those mentioned by Alkarama in its UPR submission particularly regarding the worrying state of freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and the widespread practice of torture and ill-treatment.

The efforts of the Government of Sudan to obstruct the engagement of civil society activists in a United-Nations-led human rights review of the country is unacceptable and shows blatant contempt not just for human rights defenders in Sudan, but to human rights standards and the UN Human Rights Council, 36 Sudanese and international groups and seven prominent Sudanese individuals said today.

On 7 January 2016, the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) arrested Orwa Al Sadig Ismail Hamdoun, a political activist affiliated to Sudan's main opposition party − the National Umma Party − and brother to Emad Al Sadig Ismail Hamdoun, arrested at the Omdurman headquarters of the National Umma Party on 14 December 2015. Detained incommunicado for several days, Orwa was tortured and denied the right to see a lawyer or to receive visits from his family. In view of this information, Alkarama and the Arab Coalition for Sudan (ACS) sent an urgent appeal to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture (SRT) to ask the Sudanese authorities to guarantee his mental and physical health and to release him.

On 14 December 2015, the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) arrested 24-year-old student Emad Al Sadig Ismail Hamdoun after he visited some friends at the Omdurman headquarters of the Umma National Party, the main opposition party in Sudan and of which he is a member. Detained incommunicado since his arrest, Emad has still not been brought before a judge let alone been charged and remains at high risk of torture, a systematic practice in Sudan. In view of these facts, Alkarama and the Arab Coalition for Sudan (ACS) sent an urgent appeal to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture (SRT) to ask the Sudanese authorities to guarantee his mental and physical health and to release him.