Speech of The UK’s International Ambassador for Human Rights, Rita French at the UN Human Rights Council 43: Resolution on South Sudan

The UK’s International Ambassador for Human Rights, Rita French

Thank You Madam President.

The United Kingdom, on behalf of a core group also consisting of Albania and Norway, is again honoured to present this resolution on South Sudan to the Human Rights Council for adoption.

The resolution before us would renew the mandate of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan for a further year.

At the outset, allow me to warmly acknowledge the Permanent Represent of South Sudan, and his delegation, for their constructive cooperation during the negotiation of this resolution. I also commend their Government’s continued commitment to work with the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan.

That this resolution should again be adopted by consensus, and under item 4, is testimony to the desire of the Government of South Sudan to begin to face its challenges, and to reach out openly to this Council and the international community more broadly. We again firmly believe that the work of the Commission can help identify and address critical human rights challenges and provide support to address them.

Madam President,

We welcome the formation of the transitional government as there remain human rights issues which must be addressed. We are, for example, concerned by significant increases in intercommunal violence and systemic sexual and gender-based violence. Moreover, the humanitarian situation remains dire and exacerbated by the COVID 19 global pandemic. The transitional government therefore has a lot to address – and we pledge to assist where we can.

In this regard, I would like to stress the important call in this year’s resolution to provide technical assistance to the new government. We look forward to working with the Government of South Sudan, the OHCHR and international donors to help identify and realise this.

Finally, Madam President, I would like to thank all delegations for their valuable engagement during the negotiation of this resolution and I look forward to its adoption, again, by consensus.

Thank you, Madam President.