HRC-mandated Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan begins operations

GENEVA (22 July 2016) -  Members of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan Ms Yasmin Sooka (Chair), Mr Ken Scott and Dr Godfrey Musila have begun their operations with initial meetings in Geneva this week.

The three-person Commission, appointed by the President of the Human Rights Council on 14 June, plan to visit South Sudan and Ethiopia in September 2016 to hold meetings with government officials, opposition leaders, civil society and South Sudanese citizens as well as intergovernmental organizations, and regional leaders.

The Human Rights Council established the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan on 23 March 2016 for a period of one year to monitor and report on the human rights situation in South Sudan, to establish a factual basis for transitional justice and to provide guidance to the Transitional Government of National Unity of South Sudan on transitional justice.  Its mandate also includes liaising with regional and international actors including the United Nations, African Union, IGAD¹ JMEC² and civil society with a view supporting their efforts towards promoting accountability for human rights violations and providing recommendations on support to the Transitional government in South Sudan.

The Commission has followed recent events in South Sudan with grave concern. It calls on all parties to end the violence, to honor their commitments under the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) in all its dimensions, and cease attacks on civilians.

The Commission notes with concern the ongoing attacks on civilians and allegations of rape and sexual violence against women and children. The Commission encourages regional leaders and the international community to intensify efforts to protect civilians, put an end to human rights violations and to enhance security and assist the parties to the conflict to fulfill their commitments under the ARCSS.

For more information please contact:  Joseph Bonsu –jbonsu@ohchr.org

Notes:

Inter-governmental Authority on Development

The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission for the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan