UN Commission Report on Human Rights Violations in South Sudan Calls for Urgent Reforms

The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan’s latest report highlights rampant human rights violations by political leaders, urging accountability and reform. The report details systemic corruption, violence, and the introduction of laws that endorse extrajudicial killings. It stresses the need to utilize national resources effectively to support essential services and highlights the direct impact of these issues on the ongoing political transition in South Sudan.

The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has released a report urging the political leadership to confront issues of impunity and corruption that are exacerbating human rights violations in the country. Presented to the UN Human Rights Council, the report highlights ongoing violence and instability attributed to political and military elites who have escaped accountability for their actions.

The report chronicles continued gross human rights violations, particularly in areas like Tambura, where armed forces and militias committed atrocities against civilians along ethnic lines. Yasmin Sooka, Chair of the Commission, emphasized the systematic nature of sexual violence and the recruitment of children into armed conflict, illustrating a failure to protect the youth and heal societal divisions.

The report critiques the government’s failure to adequately utilize national wealth to support essential services, leading to deterioration in judicial and healthcare systems. Despite government revenues estimated at $3.5 billion from oil, a lack of funding has rendered courts and educational institutions ineffective, perpetuating cycles of violence and instability.

Additionally, the introduction of the controversial “Green Book” state law has institutionalized extrajudicial killings, undermining justice and further igniting communal tensions. The law’s selective enforcement highlights a broader culture of lawlessness, with limited judicial oversight affecting the state’s ability to dispense justice.

The Commissioners, after engaging with survivors of human rights violations, expressed serious concerns over the ongoing repression and the lack of political will to address these crises. In conclusion, the report urges the government to implement critical humanitarian and governance reforms to break these cycles of violence and promote sustainable peace.

The report from the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan illustrates the dire situation of human rights in the country, emphasizing the urgent need for reform in governance and accountability. Continuing violence, the prevalence of corruption, and the ineffectiveness of justice mechanisms hinder any progress towards lasting peace. Without a commitment to address these systemic issues, the political transition in South Sudan remains precarious and at risk of failure.

Original Source: reliefweb.int