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

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on last month’s telecomms shutdowns in Afghanistan

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on last month’s telecomms shutdowns in Afghanistan ENG FRA

The telecommunications shutdowns in Afghanistan in September had serious and far-reaching impacts on people’s lives, according to a briefing paper published today by the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).  

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on ASEAN declaration on the right to a healthy environment

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on ASEAN declaration on the right to a healthy environment ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Jeremy Laurence at the UN Geneva press briefing made the following comment on the ASEAN declaration on the right to a healthy environment. 

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 28 October 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | IFRC , OCHA , OHCHR , UNCTAD , UNHCR , UNOG , WHO , WMO

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 28 October 2025 ENG FRA

Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section at the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the World Meteorological Organization, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the World Health Organization, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Hurricane Melissa update IFRC - WMO - OCHA

1

1

1

Edited News | IFRC , OCHA , WMO

Hurricane Melissa update IFRC - WMO - OCHA ENG FRA

‘Catastrophic’ Hurricane Melissa hours from landfall in Jamaica as humanitarians rush to save lives

Millions in Jamaica and across the Caribbean are bracing for massive impact from Hurricane Melissa on Tuesday as the UN and partners are warning of a “severe” and “immediate” humanitarian threat.

UNEP Press conference: Minamata Convention on Mercury - COP6 - 27 October 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | UNEP

UNEP Press conference: Minamata Convention on Mercury - COP6 - 27 October 2025 ENG FRA

UNEP Press conference: Minamata Convention on Mercury COP6 

Gaza health update - WHO 24 October 2025

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza health update - WHO 24 October 2025 ENG FRA

‘We need all routes to open’: in Gaza WHO calls for ramp-up of medevacs, easier access for essentials

Two weeks since a ceasefire agreement entered into force in Gaza the World Health Organization (WHO) noted progress on the flow of aid while calling for more evacuations of critical patients and eased entry for essential medicines and supplies.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 24 October 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | WHO , WMO

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 24 October 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives of the World Health Organization and the World Meteorological Organization.

UNCTAD Press conference: Launch of the Sevilla Forum on Debt - 22 October 2025

1

5

1

1

Press Conferences | UNCTAD

UNCTAD Press conference: Launch of the Sevilla Forum on Debt - 22 October 2025 ENG FRA

Press conference on the launch of the Sevilla Forum on Debt, on the margins of the sixteenth United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD16). 

SG Guterres Early Warnings - WMO

1

12

1

1

Edited News | WMO , UNITED NATIONS

SG Guterres Early Warnings - WMO ENG FRA

UN chief urges boost to life-saving weather warning systems, stresses role of climate change science

No country is safe from the devastating impacts of extreme weather — and saving lives means making early-warning systems accessible to all, UN chief António Guterres said on Wednesday.

Gaza aid update - WFP

1

1

1

Edited News | WFP

Gaza aid update - WFP ENG FRA

Gazans’ response to food distributions ‘overwhelming’ as humanitarians scale up under fragile ceasefire

In Gaza, the ceasefire is enabling UN humanitarians to reach more desperate people with life-saving food, but greater access is needed to contain the spread of famine.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 21 October 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | UNFPA , WFP , WHO , OCHA , WMO

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 21 October 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci, Director, United Nations Information Service Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Populations Fund, the World Food Programme, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the World Health Organization and the World Meteorological Organization.