CPJ and 102 NGOs urge the UNHRC to maintain focus on human rights in South Sudan, highlighting ongoing violations, the role of the NSS in targeting journalists, and the importance of renewing the Commission’s mandate before its expiry in April.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has joined 102 organizations in urging the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to continue emphasizing accountability in South Sudan amid ongoing human rights violations. These violations include extrajudicial killings and severe breaches of rights affecting women and girls, intertwined with persistent localized and intercommunal conflicts.
The letter highlights the role of the National Security Service (NSS), which has reportedly engaged in attacks against journalists and human rights defenders. Specifically, it notes the case of editor Emmanuel Monychol Akop, who has been detained by the NSS since November 2024. South Sudan’s government has stalled implementation of a 2018 peace agreement and delayed long-awaited elections since the country’s independence in 2011.
Amid these ongoing issues, the joint letter calls for the UNHRC to adopt a rigorous resolution in its forthcoming session from February 24 to April 4. This resolution should address human rights conditions in South Sudan alongside the mandate of the UN’s Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan which is responsible for documenting severe rights violations. The Commission’s mandate is set to expire in April, underscoring the urgency of their mission.
The collaborative letter from CPJ and other organizations emphasizes the dire need for the UNHRC to address the systematic human rights abuses in South Sudan. By advocating for accountability and the renewal of the Commission’s mandate, they highlight the importance of continued international scrutiny in promoting justice and human rights protection in the region.
Original Source: cpj.org
