The need to combat impunity took centre stage when Moustapha Soumare, Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) of UNMISS, spoke at today’s belated celebration of Human Rights Day at the Nyakuron Cultural Centre in Juba.

“No sustainable results in terms of peace and reconciliation are possible without putting an end to impunity and introducing accountability, Mr. Soumare said, adding that another growing concern in the country is the conflict-fuelling use of “inciting language”.

The Acting SRSG was not the only one giving a speech at the Human Rights Day commemoration. Most people did, and they all agreed: human rights are inherent, universal and indivisible, they include both rights and obligations and it is the responsibility of the government of South Sudan to ensure that they are upheld.

These points were driven home time and again, in a first round by the South Sudan Human Rights Commission, the country’s Scout Association and students from the Africa Inlands Church Primary School. The latter added an appeal to the international community: “Don’t forget to include us in your agenda!”

Akweiro Lily, a representative for a Civil Society Organization (CSO), encouraged collective action on protecting human rights today, because “if you don’t act today you can be the next victim (of violations)”. Moving on to talking about what the peace agreement has to say about transitional justice, she made the point that it is not all about tribunals, but also about “non-prosecution mechanisms”.

“What is very important to understand is that civil society organizations and the government cannot be enemies, they have to work hand in hand”, Ms. Lily said.

Next on stage was the High Commissioner of the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR), albeit not in person but represented by the Chief of the UNMISS Human Rights Division, Eugene Nindorera, who read the High Commissioner’s message about a rising “toxic tide of hatred” sweeping away “vital principles that safeguard peaceful societies”. Fortunately, the message read, “there is another way. It starts with all of us taking practical steps to reaffirm our common humanity”.

Those practical steps should include financial contributions from the international community, according to the Guest of Honour of the event, Paulino Wanawila, South Sudan’s Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, who read out a message on behalf of President Salva Kiir.

In between recognizing ongoing instability in Central Equatoria and Upper Nile and promising more money for the South Sudan Human Rights Commission to perform its tasks, Mr. Wanawila assured the few hundred people in attendance that the government “remains committed to the peace agreement, in letter and in spirit”.

“Our biggest challenge is a lack of financial resources to implement the peace agreement”, the Minister lamented.

Participants at the Nyakuron Cultural Centre event were also treated to cultural performances by UNMISS troops from Rwanda, Nepal, Mongolia and Ethiopia, the latter of whom served some truly exquisite coffee as well.

(Find the full photo galore here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/unmissmultimedia/albums/72157673876196363)