South Sudan: Extend UN investigations, stand ready to respond to any further deterioration of the human rights situation

A coalition of civil society organizations has urged the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) to extend the mandate of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan (CHRSS) in light of the country's deteriorating human rights situation.

Call for Continued International Scrutiny

In a letter addressed to the HRC ahead of its 61st regular session, the organizations emphasized the importance of ongoing international monitoring and accountability mechanisms. They highlighted that South Sudan's multiple crises continue to result in atrocity crimes, violence, and violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.

Concerns Over Human Rights Violations

The letter detailed concerns over escalating political tensions, arbitrary detentions, and attacks on civilians, including sexual and gender-based violence. It also noted the lack of progress in implementing the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), particularly in establishing transitional justice mechanisms such as the Hybrid Court for South Sudan.

Recommendations for the Human Rights Council

The coalition recommended that the HRC:

• Extend the mandate of the CHRSS in full to ensure continued monitoring and documentation of human rights violations.
• Stand ready to respond to any further deterioration of the human rights situation, including on the basis of expert analyses of risk factors for atrocity crimes.
• Request the CHRSS to share its reports and recommendations with relevant bodies and mechanisms of the African Union and all relevant organs of the United Nations.

They stressed that international scrutiny remains vital and that the HRC should continue to closely monitor the situation until meaningful progress is made in addressing the root causes of the conflict and human rights violations in South Sudan.