A group of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have written to the UN Human Rights Council to extend the mandate of the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNHCR) in South Sudan.
The groups have told the UN Human Rights Council that South Sudan is still experiencing civil wars and human rights violations, which necessitates the existence of the commission.
‘‘As the only mechanism currently collecting and preserving evidence of violations of international humanitarian and human rights law with a view to accountability and addressing human rights and transitional justice issues in South Sudan from a holistic perspective, the CHRSS remains vital,’’ they note in the letter dated February 5.
They have said areas such as Tonj, Bor and Greater Pibor are experiencing inter-communal tensions hence piling even more humanitarian needs. The group has raised various issues like gender-based violence, acute food security, attacks against humanitarian personnel, failure to implement the chapter two of the R-ARCSS, attack on civil society and rape.
They have also faulted the government for failure to establish Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing (CTRH) and the Compensation and Reparation Authority (CRA) among many others.
‘‘Violations and abuses continue and the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (National Unity Government) has failed to take key steps to prevent, deter, investigate, and punish them,’’ the letter further notes in part.
Come June 2021, the mandate of the commission shall have come to a close pursuant to the adoption of the 43/27 of the resolution of the council on June 22, 2020, which extended the term.
‘‘Council recognised in June 2020, the mandate of the CHRSS should continue until such a point as demonstrable progress has been made against human rights benchmarks, and based on an assessment of risk factors of further violations.’’
The group also wants the South Sudanese legislature to adopt the Statute of the Hybrid Court which will ensure operationalising the court. They extended another request to the legislature include crimes under the international law in the penal code.