8 May 2014- It is vital for parties to the conflict in South Sudan to abandon their current determination to pursue military option and engage in the peace process in good faith, a new UNMISS human rights report released today says.

The report, which presents findings of investigation and documentation conducted by the mission’s Human Rights Division since 15 December 2013, is based on over 900 interviews with victims and witnesses, sources, Government and military officials, as well as visits to the sites of reported incidents.

“There are reasonable grounds to believe that gross violations of international human rights and humanitarian law have been committed by both parties to the conflict,” says the report. “Civilians were not only caught up in the violence, they were directly targeted, often along ethnic lines.”

Violations listed in the report include extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, rape and other forms of sexual violence, arbitrary arrests and detention, targeted attacks against civilians, and attacks on hospitals as well as against UN facilities and the peacekeeping mission and its staff.

“In light of the widespread and systematic nature of many of these attacks, and information suggesting a degree of coordination and planning in some incidents, there are reasonable grounds to believe that certain crimes against humanity may have been committed, including murder, rape and other acts of sexual violence, enforced disappearance, and imprisonment,” the report says.

Following the release of the report, UNMISS is calling for further investigations, which must be conducted independently and in a transparent manner as well as move quickly and lead to the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators, the mission’s executive summary of the report said.

Welcoming initiatives at the national and regional level to conduct further investigations, the summary said UNMISS will also continue to investigate any future human rights violations, in keeping with its human rights mandate.

“Accountability is critical to end the legacy of impunity in South Sudan and prevent similar atrocities in the future,” said UNMISS Chief Hilde F. Johnson. “There can be no reconciliation without accountability.”

The Special Representative of the Secretary General also called for a credible peace process that will lead to national healing and reconciliation.

In its recommendations, the report notes that the Inter-governmental Authority for Development (IGAD) peace process must ensure that appropriate respect for human rights principles, including non-discrimination and the rights of victims to justice and reparations, are reflected in the outcome of the talks.

The reports also says parties to the conflict must immediately comply with the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and immediately end attacks on civilians. It also calls for enhanced efforts to protect civilians, by deploying more UNMISS troops.

Another recommendation in the report is for enhanced capacity of judicial institutions and for respect of their independence, as well as reforming and restructuring of South Sudan’s security organs.