HRC vital for ending impunity in S. Sudan, say rights groups
Human rights groups have underlined the importance of the Human Rights Commission in South Sudan, saying it is vital to ending abuses and promoting accountability.
Gordon Lam, a representative from Human Rights Watch, said grave abuses against civilians, including forced displacement, rape, killings, and attacks on aid workers, have occurred as a result of clashes pitting forces allied to peace partners.
“Technical cooperation is important but it’s not enough. We believe changing the mandate of the Commission is not only premature but would sanction impunity and further abuses, “Lam stressed.
He made these remarks at the UN Human Rights Council interactive dialogue, on the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on technical assistance and capacity building for South Sudan on March 29, 2022.
Nada Al-Nashif, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, welcomed a noticeable reduction in documented armed violence involving the signatory parties but expressed concern over the continued reports of localised violence involving community-based militias.
She said she was concerned about reports of killings, sexual violence, arbitrary arrests and detention, forced displacement, abductions, looting, and destruction of civilian property.
“The situation of women and girls continued to be distressing, with conflict-related sexual violence frequently committed with impunity, as a pervasive form of individual harm,” the report stated.
The report, presented to the Council on Wednesday, underscored how localised violence, coupled with an inadequate judicial response, bred a culture of impunity, which fuelled new cycles of violence.
She noted the delays in the establishment of key transitional justice mechanisms, especially the Commission for Truth and Reconciliation and Healing, the Compensation and Reparation Authority, and the Hybrid Court for South Sudan.
Nada urged the government to accelerate the establishment of all transitional justice mechanisms and to implement the Revitalised Peace Agreement.
UK Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Simon Manley, said the human rights situation in South Sudan remains incredibly grave, and the violations and abuses being documented in South Sudan, including restrictions to civic space and widespread conflict-related sexual violence, are deeply concerning, as is the climate of impunity described in other relevant reporting.
The Deputy High Commissioner further called on the international community to support South Sudan in strengthening its rule of law institutions and transitional justice mechanisms so that perpetrators were duly brought before courts of law.
The Deputy High Commissioner urged the government to open up civic space and to refrain from restricting freedom of opinion and expression and the rights to peaceful assembly and association, which were essential for peaceful, free, fair and credible elections and a vibrant democratic state.
Ms. Al-Nashif acknowledged and welcomed the government’s cooperation with the Council’s Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan and welcomed the constructive engagement of the government with her office and international human rights mechanisms.
The Deputy High Commissioner also welcomed the initiative by the Ministry of Justice to establish an inclusive coordination mechanism with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan and the United Nations Country Team to promote joint assessments, analysis and planning of the capacity building.
The UK representative further reiterated his government’s commitment to supporting South Sudan to uphold its human rights obligations as elections draw near.
“We recognise the value of technical assistance and capacity building in helping to achieve this, and welcome the support provided by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to date,” Manley said.
Amnesty International said despite commitments made by the Government of South Sudan during the reporting period, it remained concerned about the selective approach taken by the authorities to implement Chapter V of the revitalised peace agreement which contains mechanisms critical to the right to truth, justice and reparations for crimes under international law.
