United Nations Human Rights Council has warned that the continued threats, harassment, and intimidation of the prominent human rights defenders including journalists could have what they term as a “chilling effect” on the peace process.
The Chair of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan to the Human Rights Council, Yasmin Sooka, said public participation in the country was diminishing which said it would undermine the effort to achieve sustainable peace.
“The role played by overzealous security service in preventing dissent and criticism causing key stakeholders involved in conditional and transitional justice processes to flee the country discourages the participation of others. It negates the government’s efforts in these critical areas,” Sooka said in the press statement seen by The City Review yesterday.
The Human Rights Watch said it was concerned over the flight of some prominent civil society activists whose contributions were very important in the implementation of the peace agreement.
The United Nations Human Rights Commissioner on South Sudan, Andrew Clapham, said targeting the high profile human rights defenders, mostly civil society and journalists, will discourage public participation and destroy confidence in the important process of transitional justice including the constitution-making process and national election.
He said the agreement requires the drafting of a permanent constitution and the establishment of a commission on truth, reconciliation, and healing. He added that the implementation of all these need public consultation.
“At the same time, the government has been calling for the public participation in the transitional processes. The national security services have been targeting some South Sudan’s most prominent civil society leaders,’’ he said.
On his part, the Member of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, Barney Afako, said state authorities must respect and protect the rights of human rights defenders because it is an obligation under international law.
He said respecting and protecting the human rights defender would also demonstrate South Sudan’s commitment to strengthening its systems for the consolidation of human rights.
“South Sudan‘s transitional constitution guarantees the right to free assembly and association. Restrictions must be based on law and should be in line with international human rights standards. Any concern authorities may have need be addressed within the rule of law, not through harassment and brutality which only fuel further conflict and division,” Afako said.