Syria was reviewed by the UN Committee against Torture in May 2012, as part of a special review, a relatively rare occurrence for the UN Committee. In conclusion of its review, the Committee issued a series of recommendations, and requested that the Syrian authorities provided information on how it had implemented these recommendations at the Committee's next session in May.

 President Bashar al-Assad should release all peaceful activists, media professionals, and humanitarian assistance providers as part of an amnesty announced on October 23, 2012, Human Rights Watch, Alkarama, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network, the Gulf Centre for Human Rights, Index on Censorship, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Reporters Without Borders, and Samir Kassir Foundation – Skeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom said today.

The Sudanese government is continuing its campaign against students. Many breaches of student rights occurred in October, and student sit-ins were forcefully broken up, which has led to numerous injuries and arrests amongst students.