Human Rights Council 39: UK Statement on South Sudan
The UK engaged in an interactive dialogue with the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, where it criticised security forces in the country.
Thank you, Mr Vice-President,
The United Kingdom thanks the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan for its crucial work. We thank the Government of South Sudan for its cooperation. We also welcome the progress made in recent months towards a revitalised peace agreement, with regional support.
But much more must urgently be done. Despite repeated commitments by the Government, the men, women and children of South Sudan continue to suffer appalling human rights violations and abuses. The Government is responsible for grave violations committed by its own forces, and is failing to meet its obligations under international law and under its own constitution.
The Government also consistently fails to address the culture of impunity. Meaningful steps to establish the Hybrid Court are yet to be taken. Armed actors deliberately target and kill civilians, commit rape including gang rape, recruit children to their ranks, and forcibly displace communities, secure in the knowledge that their crimes will go unpunished.
The Government’s continued repression of freedom of expression is also a concern. Security authorities engage in arbitrary arrests and detentions to silence those exercising their constitutional rights. All political prisoners must, as a priority, be released.
The situation is shocking and unacceptable. We urge South Sudan’s leaders to act now to address the serious human rights violations in their country, and to show that their commitment to the protection of human rights is more than merely rhetorical.
Mr Vice-President,
We would welcome the Commission’s views on what more can be done to ensure that evidence of violations and abuses is preserved.
Thank you.