HRC South Sudan Presser-07MAR2023
/
31:45
/
MP4
/
1.9 GB

Edited News , Press Conferences | UNHCR

HRC - Press Conference: UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan 07 March 2023

Impunity as main driver of human rights and humanitarian crises in South Sudan is key finding of latest report of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan

More gross human rights violations throughout the country, including widespread and horrific attacks against civilians and State-sponsored extrajudicial killings have been documented by the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan in its latest report presented on Tuesday to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Violence against civilians persists which is fueled by pervasive impunity, which is one of the report’s key findings.

“We have found that prevailing impunity is a major driver of this crisis, and that this crisis in turn caused immense suffering,” said Andrew Clapham, Expert Members of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, speaking to the media at the UN in Geneva.

Addressing impunity in South Sudan is critical for stability and a peaceful future, according to the members of the Commission. Senior public officials and military officers should be held accountable for serious crimes.

“The report covers State sponsored extrajudicial killings; we have described multiple situations where State actors are the primary perpetrators of serious crimes under South Sudan’s laws as well as under international law,” said Professor Clapham. “Members of these armed non state groups are also identified as the perpetrators of violent crimes carried out in various areas of conflict.”

Based on investigations undertaken in South Sudan and the neighbouring region throughout 2022 the report identifies “widespread attacks carried out against civilians, systematic sexual violence against women and girls and it also details the ongoing presence of children in fighting forces both on the government side and amongst armed opposition groups,” said Mr. Clapham. He added that the report also “documents how Government officials directed militia to carry out widespread killings, systematic rape, and forced displacement of civilians in Leer county“.

Although the Government has announced special investigation committees, so the UN Commissioner Clapham. Only one such body appears to have carried out inquiries and no reports have been published.

Barney Afako, Expert Member of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan , said that “we urge the country’s political leaders to shift away from prioritizing their own political and economic ends and instead to address and prioritize the needs and aspirations of South Sudan’s people”.

In 2021 the Government of South Sudan agreed to form a hybrid court to deal with past abuses, accountability and reconciliation to bring justice and healing to all South Sudanese. Once established, the court could be efficient in fighting impunity, said Mr. Clapham.

“It is foreseen that the Hybrid court would have the possibility to prosecute people for Command responsibility,” said Mr. Clapham. “So that’s an important concept because it means that a Commander who has failed to prosecute those under his or her command for war crimes or other crimes that can be prosecuted in the court, could be prosecuted themselves for their omission for failing to act”.

The Commissioners told the Council that South Sudan can be different, and that the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement remains the main pathway to address the conflict and lead the country to a new, more stable future.

According to Mr. Afako, “the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement remains an important framework to address the conflict, to address questions of repression, and the corruption that cause immense suffering and undermine the prospects of peace. He added that “the agreement also charts a pathway for South Sudanese to make a permanent constitution. This is something they have not done since Independence in 2011.“

-ends-

STORY: UN Commission on Human Rights South Sudan – Report launch

TRT: 2 min 46s

SOURCE: UNTV CH

RESTRICTIONS: NONE

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATS

ASPECT RATIO: 16:9

DATELINE: 7 March 2023 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST

  1. Wide shot, UN Geneva flag alley.
  2. Wide shot, press room with panel of speakers
  3. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) - Andrew Clapham, Expert Members of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan: “We have found that prevailing impunity is a major driver of this crisis, and that this crisis in turn caused immense suffering.”
  4. Medium shot, panel with speakers and journalist
  5. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) - Andrew Clapham, Expert Members of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan: “The report also covers State sponsored extrajudicial killings, we have described multiple situations where State actors are the primary perpetrators of serious crimes under South Sudan’s laws as well as under International law. Members of these armed non state groups are also identified as the perpetrators of violent crimes carried out in various areas of conflict.”
  6. Medium shot, speakers at podium
  7. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) - Andrew Clapham, Expert Members of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan: “We presented our report which identifies widespread attacks carried out against civilians, systematic sexual violence against women and girls and it also details the ongoing presence of children in fighting forces both on the government side and amongst armed opposition groups.”
  8. Wide shot, podium with speakers and screens
  9. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) - Andrew Clapham,Expert Members of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan: “Our reports document how Government officials directed militia to carry out widespread killings, systematic rape, and forced displacement of civilians in Leer county. “
  10. Medium shot, speakers at podium with photographer
  11. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) - Barney Afako, Expert Members of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan: “We urge the country’s political leaders to shift away from prioritizing their own political and economic ends and instead to address and prioritize the needs and aspirations of South Sudan’s people.”
  12. Wide shot, press briefing room
  13. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) -Andrew Clapham, Expert Members of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan: “It is foreseen that the Hybrid court would have the possibility to prosecute people for Command responsibility. So that’s an important concept because it means that a Commander who has failed to prosecute those under his or her command for war crimes or other crimes that can be prosecuted in the court, could be prosecuted themselves for their omission for failing to act.”
  14. Medium shot, speakers on the podium
  15. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) - Barney Afako, Expert Members of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan: “That the 2018 revitalized Peace Agreement remains an important framework to address the conflict, to address questions of repression, and the corruption that cause immense suffering and undermine the prospects of peace. The agreement also charts a pathway for South Sudanese to make a permanent constitution. This is something they have not done since Independence in 2011.“
  16. Close up screen with Professor Clapham while seeing him also on the podium
  17. Medium shot, photographer

Similar Stories

Widespread starvation in Gaza – IPC, UN Women 29 July 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNWOMEN

Widespread starvation in Gaza – IPC, UN Women 29 July 2025 ENG FRA

Aid agencies echoed wider warnings of growing signs of widespread starvation in Gaza on Tuesday, as UN-partnered international food security experts released their most dire assessment yet of the situation in the wartorn enclave.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 29 July 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | WFP , UNWOMEN , UNEP , UNCTAD , WMO

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 29 July 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by spokespersons and representatives of the International Parliamentary Union, the World Food Programme, UN Women, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Trade and Development, and the World Meteorological Organization.

IPU Press conference: Martin Chungong IPU Secretary General - 29 July 2025

1

2

1

Press Conferences | UNOG , IPU

IPU Press conference: Martin Chungong IPU Secretary General - 29 July 2025 ENG FRA

Press briefing by Mr Martin Chungong, IPU Secretary General, ahead of the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament 

Sudan displaced return – IOM, UNDP, UNHCR 25 July 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | IOM , UNDP , UNHCR

Sudan displaced return – IOM, UNDP, UNHCR 25 July 2025 ENG FRA

Sudan: urgent help needed as more than 1.3 million war-displaced people begin to return home

As conflict rages on across parts of Sudan, pockets of relative safety have emerged in the past four month, spurring more than one million internally displaced Sudanese to make their way home, says the International Organization for Migration (IOM). A further 320,000 cross-border refugees have come back to Sudan since last year, mainly from Egypt and South Sudan, to assess the current situation before deciding to return to their country for good.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 25 July 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | IOM , UNHCR , UNDP , WHO , OCHA

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 25 July 2025 ENG FRA

Michele Zaccheo of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by spokespersons and representatives of the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Health Organization, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Gaza crisis update UNRWA – WHO 22 July 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNRWA , WHO

Gaza crisis update UNRWA – WHO 22 July 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza: SOS messages describe people fainting from hunger; UN health worker detained

Worrying alerts from United Nations staff in Gaza who have been fainting from hunger and exhaustion over the past 48 hours have increased fears for people’s survival in the devastated enclave, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 22 July 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | IPU , UNRWA , WHO , OCHA

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 22 July 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and the International Parliamentary Union.

Funding cuts impact on aid access - UNHCR Dominique Hyde - 18 July 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNHCR , UNOG

Funding cuts impact on aid access - UNHCR Dominique Hyde - 18 July 2025 ENG FRA

Over 11.6 million refugees risk losing aid access due to funding cuts, says UNHCR

Approximately one in three refugees and other vulnerable individuals normally supported by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) are expected to lose out from funding cuts, it said on Friday.

UN Human Rights Ravina Shamdasani on opening mission in Bangladesh

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Ravina Shamdasani on opening mission in Bangladesh ENG FRA

Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, made the following announcement on the Office’s opening of a new mission in Bangladesh.

UN Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on returns of Afghans

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on returns of Afghans ENG FRA

The surge in the number of Afghans forced or compelled to return to Afghanistan this year is creating a multi-layered human rights crisis requiring the urgent attention of the international community,” UN Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said on Friday.  

UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on violence in Suweida, Syria

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on violence in Suweida, Syria ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Friday called for accountability and justice for the killings and other gross human rights violations and abuses in the southern city of Suweida. 

Syria Sweida violence OHCHR – UNHCR 18 July 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNHCR

Syria Sweida violence OHCHR – UNHCR 18 July 2025 ENG FRA

Syria: hundreds killed in Sweida, ‘widespread’ violations as civilians flee for their lives

Amid violent clashes in southern Syria’s Sweida governorate, a picture of grave human rights abuses and rising humanitarian needs is emerging by the hour, the UN said on Friday.