South Sudan Rights Violations Worsen, Amnesty International Urges UN Action
GENEVA – A new report detailing escalating human rights violations in South Sudan has prompted Amnesty International to call for a continued and strengthened United Nations presence in the country. The report, presented Friday to the UN Human Rights Council by the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan (CHRSS), documents abuses across multiple regions, including Upper Nile, Jonglei, Central and Western Equatoria states.
The CHRSS report highlights a disturbing pattern of impunity enabling ongoing violations, implicating all parties to the conflict. Specific abuses cited include airstrikes impacting civilians, indiscriminate bombardments, and the forced recruitment of young boys and men by the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF).
“The report paints a bleak picture of the human rights situation in South Sudan,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa. “The scale and recurrence of violations are enabled by impunity, implicating all parties to the conflict.”
Amnesty International is urging the UN Human Rights Council to extend the mandate of the CHRSS for at least two years. Established in March 2016, the Commission has been tasked with collecting evidence and clarifying responsibility for alleged gross human rights violations and abuses. South Sudan is notably one of the few nations cooperating with a mechanism designed to address its human rights challenges.
“The critical conditions that led to the establishment of the CHRSS in 2016 remain unchanged. Now is not the time to end or relax scrutiny of the violations occurring in South Sudan,” Chagutah stated.
The organization also stressed the importance of a strong resolution from the Council, demonstrating a commitment to respond to any further deterioration of human rights within the country.
“It is also critical that the Council passes a strong resolution that reflects the worsening situation in South Sudan, making clear that it stands ready to respond to any further deterioration of human rights in the country,” Chagutah added.
