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Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan

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The Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan is a United Nations commission of inquiry established by the United Nations Human Rights Council.[1][2] Established through Resolution 31/20 on 23 March 2016, the Commission is mandated to monitor and investigate human rights violations in South Sudan. Its mandate is renewed on yearly basis upon the decision by the 47 member states of the Human Rights Council.[3]

Structure

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The Commission is headed by three Commissioners, appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council.[4] Currently, the members of the Commission are Ms. Yasmin Sooka[5][6] (chairperson, from South Africa), Mr. Barney Afako[7][8][9][10] (from Uganda), Mr. Carlos Castresana Fernandes[11][12][13] (from Spain). The Commissioners are supported by a secretariat based in Juba, South Sudan.

Reporting

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The Commission publishes annual inquiry reports (also called Mandate Reports) detailing the overall human rights situation in South Sudan and also publishes thematic reports known as Conference Room Papers (CRPs). These reports primarily focus on severe violations of International Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law, with a great emphasis on conflict-related sexual violence.[14][15] The Commission's secretariat staff and the three Commissioners conduct fact-finding missions across South Sudan and neighboring countries to interview victims and witnesses. These investigative findings form the foundation of the Commission's reports.[16] The Commission's reports are utilized by international communities, including governments and NGOs, to strengthen their advocacy efforts and inform policy/response formation decisions.[17][18][19][20]

Some of the recent reports released by the Commission are as below:

  • March 2024 Report:[21] details the overall human rights situation in South Sudan and flags that the likelihood of more violation is high unless the government take urgent and dedicated actions to address the conflict drivers[22][23][24][25][26]
  • October 2023 Report (CRP):[27] details the plight of civic and political space in South Sudan.[28][29] It tells how systematic tools are employed to repress, restrain and control civil society organizations and media[30][31]
  • April 2023 Report (CRP):[32] released on 03 April, talks in great details about the conflicts that happened during 2022 in South Sudan and portrays how impunity is fueling violence in the country.[33] It documented the violations that were committed in the context of these conflicts and names individuals responsible for the same[34]
  • March 2023 Report:[35] details the overall human rights situation in South Sudan with findings of the Commission's investigations during 2022 and tells how impunity drives all conflicts and violations in the country.[36]

See Also

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References

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  1. ^ Blanchard, Lauren Ploch (22 September 2016). "Conflict in South Sudan and the Challenges Ahead" (PDF). Congressional Research Service (US Gov). R43344 (7–5700): 9.
  2. ^ "HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ESTABLISHES COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN SOUTH SUDAN". www.ungeneva.org. 23 March 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Joint NGO letter Calls for Renewal of UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan at Critical Moment | Human Rights Watch". 2024-02-26. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  4. ^ "Human Rights Council appoints members to monitor S. Sudan". Sudan Tribune. 14 June 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  5. ^ UN, OHCHR (14 June 2016). "President of Human Rights Council appoints members of monitoring mission on South Sudan". OHCHR. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Biographies of the members of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan". OHCHR. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  7. ^ UN, OHCHR (14 June 2018). "Human Rights Council President appoints Barney Afako of Uganda as new member of South Sudan body". www.ohchr.org. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  8. ^ "Q&A: 'It is important for South Sudan to set up the Hybrid Court'-UN Rights Commissioner Afako". Radio Tamazuj. 11 October 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Barney Afako". IFIT - Institute of Integrated Transitions. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Barney Afako". European University Institute. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  11. ^ UN, OHCHR (18 July 2023). "Human Rights Council President appoints Carlos Castresana Fernández to serve as member of South Sudan Commission". www.ohchr.org. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Carlos Castresana Fernández". Institute for Integrated Transitions. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Carlos Castresana-Fernandez". literaturfestival.com. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  14. ^ Afriyie, Frederick Appiah; Jisong, Jian; Yaw Appiah, Kenneth (2020). "Comprehensive analysis of South Sudan conflict: determinants and repercussions" (PDF). Journal of Liberty and International Affairs. 6 (1): 33-47 (40 p) – via Social Science Open Access Repository (SSOAR).
  15. ^ "South Sudan: Extension of UN arms embargo welcome news for victims of decade long conflict". Amnesty International. 2023-05-30. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  16. ^ Vhumbunu, Hazvinei (2020). "The formation of the revitalized transitional government of national unity in South Sudan: key priorities, tasks and challenges ahead". Conflict Trends 2020. 2020 (2): 3–12.
  17. ^ "South Sudan". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  18. ^ Dungel, Emilia, ed. (August 2022). "ANNUAL REPORT 2021" (PDF). Small Arms Survey: 9p.
  19. ^ "AFRICAN UNION'S ABANDONED COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE IN AFRICA: THE CASE OF THE HYBRID COURT FOR SOUTH SUDAN". Amnesty International. November 2022.
  20. ^ "South Sudan Awaits Justice for Mayom Extrajudicial Killings | Human Rights Watch". 2023-08-09. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  21. ^ https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/sessions-regular/session55/advance-versions/A_HRC_55_26_AdvanceUneditedVersion.docx
  22. ^ Machol, Deng (2 March 2024). "Violence and rights abuses threaten South Sudan's stability, a UN report warns". AP. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  23. ^ "UN report highlights risk of more and gross human rights violations if South Sudan's conflict drivers remain unaddressed". OHCHR. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  24. ^ "'Mass violence, gross human rights violations remain ever-present in South Sudan'-UN Commission on Human Rights". Radio Tamazuj. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  25. ^ "Impunity endemic in S. Sudan ahead of planned elections: UN body". France24. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  26. ^ Schlein, Lisa (1 March 2024). "Rising Violence, Human Rights Violations Threaten Peace in South Sudan". Voice of America. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  27. ^ "Entrenched repression: systematic curtailment of the democratic and civic space in South Sudan" (PDF). OHCHR. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  28. ^ "New UN report cites media censorship, restriction on civic activities in South Sudan". Radio Tamazuj. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  29. ^ "UN warns of mass violations, repression in South Sudan". Sudan Tribune. 2 March 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  30. ^ Kimeu, Caroline (6 October 2023). "South Sudan 'attacking' journalists and activists who criticize the state". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  31. ^ Machol, Deng (6 October 2023). "A UN rights commission accuses South Sudan of violations more than a year before the next election". Associate Press. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  32. ^ "State of Impunity: the persistence of violence and human rights violations in South Sudan" (PDF). OHCHR. 3 April 2023.
  33. ^ "South Sudan: UN Inquiry decries impunity for Human Rights violations, identifies individuals warranting investigation". OHCHR. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  34. ^ "UN experts accuse senior South Sudan officials of rights abuses". Al Jazeera English. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  35. ^ "Report of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan (A/HRC/52/26) [EN/AR]". reliefweb.int. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  36. ^ "Impunity drives cycles of 'horrific' crimes in South Sudan, Human Rights Council hears". UN News. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
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