S. Sudan Human Rights Commission deeply concerned by abuses
May 5, 2014 (ADDIS ABABA) – The chairperson of South Sudan Human Rights Commission (SSHRC), Lawrence Korbandy, said the body remains committed to investigating and monitoring human rights abuses across the country.
He said the commission was preparing a detailed report on human rights situation in the country, but emphasised that it was the role of government and not the commission to protect civilians.
The report will give advice and recommendations on how to end the conflict, Korbandy stressed.
Considering the current political situation in the country, the official said it was imperative for the government to provide physical protection to South Sudanese civilians and their properties.
The rights body has a national agenda for human rights that entails programmes for human rights promotion in the country; including the introduction of human rights to the school curriculum, he said.
The budget for the programme has been approved, he said, adding they are developing the materials to be used in both primary and secondary schools.
“When the cash is received the commission is determined to move forward with the development and production of its human rights education literature regardless of the current situation,” he said.
This investment in education will help to educated the masses on their constitutional rights, respect for good cultural norms and values, their role in promotion and protection of others rights, he further said.
Following the recent visit of US Secretary of State John Kerry, UN human rights chief, Navi Pillay and UN special adviser on the prevention of genocide Adama Dieng to South Sudan, all have raised concerns over the human rights situation.
Korbandy said the interim report of the commission issued last month provides details of the commission’s concerns on the human rights situation in the country and gave recommendations on how to move forward in improving the protection mechanisms and bringing those accountable to justice.
In a joint press statement dated 10 April, the United States, Norway, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom missions in South Sudan, as well as the European Union, applauded the commission’s interim report.
The diplomatic missions encouraged the commission to continue to fulfill their constitutional mandate.
Furthermore, the diplomats called on all parties to cooperate fully with the commission as well as others such as the African Union’s Commission of Inquiry (COI), United Nations Mission in South Sudan and other UN institutions responsible for investigating and reporting on human rights abuses and violations.
(ST)