UN renews mandate of Commission on Human Rights in S. Sudan
March 24, 2021 (GENEVA) – Amnesty International has welcomed the United Nations Human Rights Council’s decision to renew the mandate of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan.
The UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday renewed the mandate of the Commission for another year.
Amnesty International, in a statement, described the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan as a “vital mechanism in the context of grave past and ongoing violations of international humanitarian and human rights law and near-total impunity in the country”
“The Commission plays an invaluable role documenting serious breaches of human rights and international humanitarian law. It contributes to combatting impunity by collecting and preserving evidence for future prosecutions and clarifying alleged responsibilities for crimes under international law and other human rights violations,” Amnesty International’s Director for East and Southern Africa, Deprose Muchena said on Wednesday.
He further urged South Sudan to take urgent measures to halt ongoing human rights violations and abuses and continue its cooperation with the Commission as it continues its important work.
Established in March 2016, the Commission’s mandate is to determine and report the facts and circumstances of, collect and preserve evidence of, and clarify responsibility for alleged gross violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes, including sexual and gender-based violence and ethnic violence, with a view to ending impunity and providing accountability.
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