Rights groups urge S. Sudan authorities to advance reform agenda
February 5, 2021 (NAIROBI) – South Sudanese authorities should urgently advance and implement a comprehensive human rights agenda to improve human rights in the country and address impunity, end repression, and ensure rights protection, three human rights groups said.
Amnesty International, South Sudan Human Rights Defenders Network and Human Rights Watch issued a briefing on Thursday as the country’s human rights record comes under spotlight at the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
The rights groups, in the 16-page briefing, outlined 10 priority rights concerns in line with the country’s human rights obligations, including under the Bill of Rights and international and regional standards, the September 2018 peace accord and pledges it made at its UPR in 2016.
During its UPR in 2016, South Sudan accepted to adopt a human rights agenda, but has failed to do so.
Various groups in South Sudan, including children, older people, pregnant women and people with disabilities are mentioned in the briefing.
A comprehensive human rights agenda, the statement noted, would offer a strong framework for the government to effectively implement these obligations and recommendations made at its UPR review on January 31.
“The Government of South Sudan (GoSS) must take responsibility to improve the human rights situation. The 2018 peace deal, which includes a rich reform agenda, offers the R-TGoNU [Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity] the opportunity to finally ensure the human rights of the South Sudanese people,” partly reads the 16-paged briefing.
Authorities were also urged to end all unlawful killings, including deliberate attacks on civilians, indiscriminate attacks and extra-judicial killings
“Investigate unlawful killings independently and efficiently and bring all alleged responsible to justice in fair trials in ordinary civilian courts and without recourse to the death penalty,” it further noted.
The organizations called on the government of South Sudan to urgently address several concerns, including right to health, unlawful killings, and the use of the death penalty, obstruction of humanitarian aid, and violations of the right to food, water, and education.
They further urged the country’s authorities to take further steps to ensure truth, justice, and reparations for victims of past and ongoing violations and abuses resulting from the conflict that broke out in December 2013.
(ST)