The 49th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council

28 February to 1 April 2022

Statement of the International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

Item 2: Interactive dialogue on HC report on technical assistance and capacity-building for South Sudan - Interactive Dialogue

29 March 2022

By Natalia Venegas 

Thank you, President. 

We thank the High Commissioner for her detailed report. Since the signing of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, the human rights situation has improved, yet remains a situation of concern.

The lack of political will by the government, to implement the agreement is evident through its direct attack on the right to freedom of expression by ordering the freezing of bank accounts of members of civil action groups. The government has also failed to implement a hybrid court to address the high level of impunity.  One of the biggest issues in the country concerns women and girls who are disproportionately affected and particularly vulnerable in situations of armed conflicts. Sexual violence continues to be used as a weapon to control women and harm them in the conflict. Although many perpetrators have been held accountable for these crimes, there is still much more work to be done. That is why the inclusion and participation of women are vital in building the country's social fabric in light of their historical discrimination and exclusion in the decision-making processes. 

EAFORD and Geneva International Centre for Justice encourage the recommendations provided by the High Commissioner in prosecuting perpetrators of sexual and gender-based crimes, and ensure that the survivors receive adequate reparations to compensate for their ordeals. The participation of women in civic engagement is imperative including constitution-making, transitional justice processes and governance.

Thank you.