Speech

40th Universal Periodic Review of human rights: UK statement on South Sudan

The UK's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Simon Manley, delivered this statement during South Sudan's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the Human Rights Council.

• From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Simon Manley CMG
• Published: 31 January 2022

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

• Location: Geneva, Switzerland
• Delivered on: 31 January 2021 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

We recognise the progress made by South Sudan since 2015, including through the 2018 Peace Agreement.

However, violations and abuses, including sexual violence, arbitrary detentions, killings and attacks on freedom of expression, continue with impunity. Urgent and immediate action is also needed to improve the security and humanitarian situation and the rule of law.

We recommend that South Sudan:

1. Protects civilians, journalists, civil society and humanitarian workers from harm and upholds freedom of assembly and expression;

2. Engages and cooperates fully with the international community, including the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, so that it can advise partners how best they can support South Sudan’s human rights priorities.

3. Fully implements its Action Plan to prevent grave violations against children, including by ending the recruitment of child soldiers and helping the social reintegration of those recruited and by increasing awareness of modern slavery among the authorities

Thank you.

Published 31 January 2022