UN Human Rights Council 58: UK Core Group Statement to Introduce Item 2 Resolution on South Sudan
UK Core Group Statement to Introduce Item 2 Resolution on South Sudan. Delivered by the UK's Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.
Thank聽you, Mr聽President.
I am honoured to present,聽on behalf of a core group of Albania,聽Ireland, Norway聽and the聽UK,聽this draft聽resolution on Advancing Human Rights in South Sudan, which proposes to extend the mandate of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan for a further year. 聽
We do so against a deeply alarming backdrop in South Sudan, with increased fighting in many parts of the country, and the recent arrest of First Vice President, Riek Machar.
We call on President Kiir to reverse that action. And we urge South Sudan鈥檚 collective leadership to engage with regional efforts to de-escalate the situation, and work together to deliver the peaceful, just and prosperous future that South Sudan鈥檚 people deserve. A future that was set out in the 2018 Peace Agreement.聽
Mr President, it is clear that the Commission for Human Rights continues to play a critical role in delivering that future. The current events are a sobering reminder that the Commission鈥檚 monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation, and its support to accountability, remain as vital today as when it was first established by consensus in 2016.
Let me also use this opportunity to praise the efforts of others also working tirelessly to improve the human rights situation in South Sudan, including the Office of the High Commissioner, and the UN Mission in South Sudan, headed by Special Representative Nicholas Haysom.
惭谤听笔谤别蝉颈诲别苍迟,
We regret that we have been again unable to reach consensus with South Sudan, and reach a single, consolidated text.
However, I would like聽to聽express my sincere gratitude to my colleague and friend, Ambassador聽Deng聽of South Sudan, for the ongoing, and聽constructive聽discussions that we have had, which have聽helped聽enrich this text.聽I would also like to welcome the continued cooperation by the government of South Sudan with the Commission in Juba.
惭谤听笔谤别蝉颈诲别苍迟,聽
We note, as in previous years, South Sudan鈥檚 call for聽enhanced聽technical assistance. 聽We accordingly support draft resolution聽L.23聽from the African Group.聽
Taken together, the two resolutions聽ensure聽a comprehensive and holistic approach to improving聽human rights, with聽technical assistance and capacity building聽continuing in addition to聽independent scrutiny of the聽human聽rights situation.
We聽therefore urge the Council to adopt this draft resolution and extend the mandate of the Commission, and to vote in favour of the text, should a vote be called.