Advancing human rights in South Sudan

Condemnatory

Yes

Analysis

• Although the resolution contains both criticism and praise, and its criticism is relatively mild, it is classified as condemnatory due to South Sudan’s opposition.
• While no competing Item 10 resolution was tabled by South Sudan this year, China requested a vote, and South Sudan’s allies on the Council—China, Cuba, Burundi, and Ethiopia—voted against it.

Main Sponsors

United Kingdom, Norway, Albania, Ireland

Vote

Yes - 25, No - 4, Abstain - 18, Absent - 0

See Full Vote

Key Praise

• "Welcoming the accession by South Sudan to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities…"
• "Welcomes and expresses its appreciation to the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity for its continued cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the special procedures of the Human Rights Council and the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan in the fulfilment of their mandates…"
• "Also welcomes and expresses its appreciation to the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity for its continued cooperation with the Human Rights Division of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan…"
• "Notes with appreciation the ongoing cooperation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity with the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development…"
• "Welcomes the laws establishing the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing and the Compensation and Reparation Authority…"

Key Criticism

• "Expressing grave concern at the reports documented by the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan of ongoing human rights violations and abuses and international humanitarian law violations, including grave violations against and abductions of children, widespread conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention, forced recruitment of boys and young men and aerial bombardments and attacks against civilians and medical facilities…"
• "Noting with grave concern that attacks on humanitarian workers continue unabated in South Sudan, and calling upon all parties to ensure the safe, rapid and unhindered access of humanitarian assistance and protection of humanitarian workers…"
• "Notes with concern the obstruction by the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, including restrictions on troop rotations and repatriations and interference with contingency planning…"
• "Calls upon the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity to make meaningful and sustained progress under the Revitalized Agreement without delay and to take additional, related steps to develop its own capacity to investigate allegations of human rights violations and abuses…"
• "Expresses its deep concern at further restrictions to democratic and civic space in South Sudan, including powers given to the National Security Service to arrest and detain individuals, with or without a warrant, repeated reports of harassment, intimidation, arbitrary arrest and enforced disappearance of and other attacks…"
• "Urges the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity to promote, protect and respect political and civic space…"
• "Emphasizes the need for the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity to create the conditions necessary for the planned elections in 2026 to be free, fair and conducted through an inclusive and credible process…"
• "Reaffirms the importance of the mandate of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, with continued emphasis on the need to establish the facts and circumstances of, to collect and preserve evidence of and to clarify responsibility for alleged violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes in South Sudan…"
• "Decides to extend the mandate of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, composed of three members, for a further period of one year."