22 April 2014 - To safeguard the safety and security of displaced people in South Sudan must be the absolute priority of the UN, an independent Human Rights expert said today.

“A solid and comprehensive strategy on internal displacement and strong safeguards for the protection of IDPs must be a priority now,” UN Special Rapporteur Chaloka Beyani said.

In a statement from UN Human Rights in Geneva, Mr. Beyani, who is tasked by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor, report and advise on the human rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the world, warns that the protection of South Sudan’s one million internally displaced persons is being further eroded amid persistent violence and targeted attacks of a deliberately ethnical nature.

“I strongly condemn any violence against IDPs in South Sudan,” Mr. Beyani said. “I call on all parties to the conflict to abstain from all violence against internally displaced persons and other civilians, on all communities to desist from hate speech and use of force against each other, and on the international community to halt the erosion of protection in South Sudan.”

In the statement, the UN Special Rapporteur also calls for renewed and urgent efforts to decongest the currently overcrowded UNMISS IDP sites in the capital Juba.

Condemning the “deliberate and criminal attack on civilians”, the African Union Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma also expressed concern over the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in South Sudan.

“This tragedy is all the more shocking as it came amid efforts by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to facilitate the implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement,” the statement said.

Dr. Dlamini-Zuma reminded both the government and opposition forces of their responsibility to fully abide by the Agreements they have signed.

A separate statement announced the arrival of the AU Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan, which arrived in Juba today. The Commission is tasked with an accountability investigation of human rights violations and other abuses that have taken place during the armed conflict in the country.

Led by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Commission of Inquiry’s arrival coincided with recent killings of hundreds of unarmed civilians in the Unity State capital Bentiu, and at the UNMISS base in Bor, Jonglei State

“This mission comes as part of AU efforts to end the conflict … and ensure the emergence of an environment of sustainable peace that would enable a sustainable democratic culture to emerge in the country,” said a statement from the African Union.

During its first field mission, which will end on 1 May, the Commission’s members intend to meet with President Salva Kiir, government officials and the Special Representative of the Secretary General Hilde F. Johnson. The Commission will also meet with former Vice President Riek Machar and the opposition group, as well as conduct wide-ranging meetings with other stakeholders, the statement said.

The Commission is expected to submit its report to the AU Peace and Security Council within a maximum period of three months.

“We are horrified by reports out of South Sudan that fighters aligned with rebel leader Riek Machar massacred hundreds of innocent civilians last week in Bentiu…. (and) appalled by the armed attack last week at the UNMISS site in Bor,” read another statement, from the White House Press Secretary.

The statement described the acts of violence as “an abomination... (and) a betrayal of the trust the South Sudanese people have put in their leaders.”