Members of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan; Ms Yasmin Sooka (Chair), Mr Ken Scott, and Dr. Godfrey Musila, have carried out a portion of their operations with meetings in Malakal and Bentiu this week.

While in each location, the commission met with religious groups, women’s groups, and traditional leaders in the PoC sites to obtain views on the current human rights situation.

The Chairperson of the Commission, Ms. Yasmin Sooka, said they came to the country to assess and report on ongoing human rights violations in the country; she also said the team will make recommendations to the Human Rights Council for actions to end impunity, and to hold accountable those that have been found guilty of violations.

 The Chairperson noted, “We will be able to look at the trends and patterns of violence, and we will be able to assess what the government is doing about establishing a hybrid court to deal with accountability.”

She then added, added “…one message that is coming through, is that impunity will continue in South Sudan unless there is accountability”.

The teams visit will help relay observations to the Human Rights Council, and to make recommendations about what is needed to correct the ongoing injustices taking place throughout the country.

Ms. Sooka explained that the women of South Sudan require peace and reconciliation, she went on to further explain, “We are very pleased that we have been able to speak to the women in these communities, women who have spoken to us repeatedly about what war has done to their lives.”

The Human Rights Council established the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan on 23 March, 2016 for a period of one year to monitor and report on the human rights situation in the country, to establish a factual basis for transitional justice and to provide guidance to the TGoNU on transitional justice.  Its mandate also includes liaising with regional and international actors including the United Nations, African Union, civil society, IGAD and JMEC, with a view supporting their efforts towards promoting accountability for human rights violations and providing recommendations on support to the Transitional government in South Sudan.