South Sudan faulted for dragging feet on human rights action plan

The United Nations and Amnesty International have decried South Sudan’s failure to develop human rights agenda and action plan as had been recovered in the previous review in 2016. 

During South Sudan’s third Universal Periodic Review (UPR), Amnesty International expressed disappointment that the key areas were yet to be addressed.

The Deputy Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes, Sarah Jackson, told the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) that it was evident from the third Universal Periodic Review (UPR) that South Sudan is still ‘‘struggling to respect, protect and fulfil its human rights obligations.’’ 

Though South Sudan has voiced support for 210 out of 246 recommendations made during its third UPR. Amnesty said it regrets, however, that the country “has not implemented its commitment from its previous review in 2016 to develop a human rights agenda and action plan”.

“The authorities must urgently adopt a human rights agenda and action plan that seeks to drastically improve the human rights situation in the country,” said Sarah Jackson.