United Nations Mission in South Sudan or UNMISS on Wednesday commemorated International Human Rights Day in Juba under the theme: ‘Human Rights 365’ emphasizing that every day of the year should be Human Rights Day.
UNMISS head Ellen Margrethe Loej, reading out UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message, said they protect human rights because they respond to violations before degenerating into mass atrocities or war crimes.’
She said South Sudanese witnessed a ‘dramatic deterioration in the human rights situation’ since the present conflict erupted.
She called on political, military and community leaders to take strong public stands against violations and impunity.
Ms Loej pointed out that ‘despite multiple statements from the leaders of both sides in the conflict that perpetrators would be held to account, no significant steps in the form of visible and transparent measures’.
She said perpetrators of human rights abuses should be punished in order to ensure the credibility of peace process in South Sudan.
The event featured performances of traditional South Sudanese dances by the Orupaap music and dance troupe.