By Anton Quist

• A gap exists between local community security needs and the capacities for protection that security actors – local or international, like UNMISS – provide

• PAX and SSANSA address this gap by surveying local security perceptions and feeding back this information into protection dialogues involving citizens as well as security actors

• This report summarises the Human Security Survey findings for Jonglei State and the main conclusions from the local community security dialogue in November 2018

Introduction

The Human Security Survey (HSS) is a unique survey methodology developed by PAX, that includes a series of complementary activities, including population-based research, community engagement, and advocacy. The objectives of the HSS are: 1) to increase knowledge and understanding of local human security experiences, perceptions, trends and priorities; 2) to enhance the ‘claim-making capacity’ of civilians to hold security providers and power brokers to account; and 3) to guide and inform a wide variety of stakeholders who have an ability to impact protection issues through evidence-based advocacy at local and international levels. PAX currently implements the HSS in South Sudan and Iraq.

The underlying rationale for the HSS is that by strengthening the voice and agency of civilians on protection strategies and security policies, the resulting protection practice will be more reflective of, and responsive to, local needs and priorities. In order to achieve this, the HSS seeks to create or leverage opportunities for civilians to participate in security dialogues at the community level, where practical decisions by military, local government, police, traditional leaders, diplomats and security actors such as the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) by providing valuable, first-hand information about the experiences and perspectives of conflict-affected communities. The survey itself is therefore best seen as a means to an end, with the ultimate aim being to facilitate more effective protection of civilians’ strategies in South Sudan.

300+ Refugees and IDPs received relief packages across South Sudan in January.

1,600+ Refugees relocated to Pamir and Ajoung Thok refugee camp in January.

1,300+ Sudanese refugee new arrivals registered in January in Unity

Working with Partners in 2019

■ UNHCR works closely with the Government of South Sudan to deliver assistance and protection services to refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

■ In the refugee response, the main government counterparts are the Ministry of Interior and the Commission for Refugee Affairs (CRA). Implementing partners in 2019 are: Action Africa Help International (AAHI), Africa Humanitarian Action (AHA), Association of Christian Resource Organisation Serving Sudan (ACROSS), Agence d'Aide à la Coopération Technique et au Développement (ACTED), CARE International, Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Humanitarian Development Consortium (HDC), International Medical Corps (IMC), International Rescue Committee (IRC), Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Relief International (RI), Samaritan’s Purse (SP), Save the Children International (SCI), United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), and World Vision International (WVI).

■ In the IDP response, the main government counterpart is the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC). Implementing partners in 2019 are: Action Africa Help International (AAHI), United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Humanity & Inclusion (HI), Humanitarian Development Consortium (HDC), INTERSOS, Nile Hope, Hope Restoration (HRSS), Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and Women Development Group (WDG), IsraAID, and International Rescue Committee (IRC).

■ Within the Inter-Agency Cluster System for IDP response, UNHCR in South Sudan is the Protection Cluster Lead (with NRC co-lead), Co-Lead of the CCCM Cluster along with IOM and ACTED, and undertakes active participation in the Shelter/NFI Cluster.

■ On the prevention of statelessness, UNHCR’s main counterpart is the Directorate of Nationality, Passports, and Immigration (DNPI).

■ UNHCR maintains operational partnerships with CAFOD, Caritas, Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB), FAO, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), MEDAIR, Médecins Sans Frontières (France, Belgium, Swiss, Holland), Mentor Initiative, Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), OXFAM, REACH, UNAIDS, UNOCHA, UN-Habitat, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNIDO, UNMAS, UNMISS, WFP, WHO, Women for Women International and UN Women.

The Eastern Africa cluster continues to face one of the biggest humanitarian crises in its history. Driven by successive episodes of drought and failed harvests, conflict, insecurity and economic shocks affecting the most vulnerable, humanitarian needs are expected to increase. According to Fewsnet, the number of people in need of food assistance in the East Africa region stands at 26.5 million and the number of refugees who have sought protection in the Horn of Africa region had increased to 4.4 million by June 2017.

Across East Africa, Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes persist in parts of South Sudan, Sudan and Somalia while Crisis (IPC Phase 3!) prevails in other parts of South Sudan as humanitarian assistance is mitigating outcomes that are primarily conflict driven. In many previously drought-affected areas of the region, better seasonal performance has driven substantial improvements in Ethiopia’s Somali Region and pastoral areas of Kenya and Somalia. However, food security outcomes have deteriorated for about one million conflict-displaced people along Ethiopia’s Oromia-Somali regional border.

Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda continue hosting the region’s largest refugee population from Somalia, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. The repatriation of refugees from Kenya to Somali and Tanzania to Burundi is ongoing. Various factors pose a challenge to the repatriation process including the political situation in Burundi and Somalia remains highly tense coupled with limited capacity to receive the refugees. In addition, most returnees have nowhere to go upon arrival in their country of origin

The cluster will work with various Movement and non-movement partners to ensure realization of planned activities..
Movement and external partners support Emergency Appeals, disaster managemetn and resilience programmes.

Context

• About 2.3 million South Sudanese have sought refuge in one of the neighbouring countries of Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda.

• Although there is neither facilitation nor promotion of refugee returns to South Sudan, as the current conditions is not yet conducive for durable, safe and dignified returns, reports on spontaneous refugee returns continue to be received.

• UNHCR recognizes the refugees’ right to return and has protection mandate for monitoring refugee returns, including those that return in a self-organized manner.

SAMIRA Y. SALIFU

The signing of the revitalized peace agreement has not led to the immediate implementation of outlined provisions hoped for by the “ordinary people” of South Sudan. Yet, where and when news of peace arrives, sometimes with the support of the United Nations peacekeeping mission, as we shall see in the case of Isaloru in Eastern Equatoria, there is hope that it will prevail.

The challenges involved in spreading the word of what has been agreed by higher-ups in the capital Juba are formidable. Poor telecommunication and road networks and the relative inaccessibility of hinterlands, coupled with prevailing security risks, often mean that information and instructions travel slowly.

Commanders and other crucial stakeholders in faraway locations on the ground may have to wait for months, or more, to receive them, and the implementation of peace accords will suffer.

“It is good that we have received physical copies of this command order in the presence of the rank and file of our division. Sometimes when we communicate orders without the backing of such physical evidences our subordinates think we are making things up,” says Brigadier General Thok Chuni Yok Kuai.

He and his men from Division 9 of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition are based in Isaloru. In its perpetual quest to inform, monitor and facilitate peace, an integrated patrol of UN peacekeepers have braved the tortuous, lonely and bumpy dirt road that leads here.

They have come to deliver the “command order” referred to by the Brigadier General, issued by opposition leader Riek Machar on 3 February, pursuant to a 2014 communiqué stipulating the prohibition of all sorts of sexual violence within the framework of the cessation of hostilities agreement.

Machar’s February dispatch orders strict compliance with the commitments made in the 2014 communiqué by all loyal forces, including the one to publicly denounce acts of sexual violence at the highest level and in the strongest terms. A pertinent reminder, perhaps, in a time where reports claim sexual violence to abound, and where opposing parties accuse each other of perpetrating these acts.

A team of high-ranking army officials and their forces have already assembled in a large yard in expectation of news to be delivered by the patrolling peacekeepers. Here, they say, peace reigns supreme.

“We decided to live in peace with neighbouring civilian communities from the day this peace agreement was signed because our chairman [Riek Machar] told us to do so,” explains Maj Gen Benjamin John Baptista, the acting sector commander.

“As you can see for yourselves, we live in harmony with the communities here,” Brigadier General Koboss Milton chips in.

“We are happy that you acknowledge that it is time to reconnect and rebuild confidence and trust for peace,” comments Elisabeth Haynes-Sageder, one of the visiting UN peacekeepers.

At this point, focus group discussions, delving into the nitty-gritty of the implementation of the provisions in Machar’s command order, take over. It is time for the patrol to move on, to assess the situation in some of the nearby communities mentioned by the military officers.

Participants of the UNMISS patrol meet Imoruk chief Anthony Ohure, who assures them that relations with the opposition forces are good, at least here, six kilometres from the base of Division 9.

“We [the opposition troops and the civilian communities] have been living like brothers and sisters since the signing of the agreement. They also hold frequent community forums with us where we can air our grievances.”

With that, the Torit-based peacekeepers embark on the long trip back. As peacefully as they came.

Support for refugees in Egypt is under severe pressure due to increased arrivals and inadequate resources, warned UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, today.

Ongoing conflicts in Yemen and in Sub-Saharan Africa have forced more people to flee to Egypt. Over the past two years the number of registered refugees and asylum seekers in Egypt has increased by 24 per cent.

Meanwhile, current refugee programmes in Egypt which are meant to assist and protect a quarter of a million refugees, more than half of whom are Syrian with others from Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan and Yemen, are just four per cent funded.

The surge in the refugee population coupled with funding shortfalls are leaving many refugees without critical support and protection.

“I am deeply troubled by the fact that eight out of 10 refugees in Egypt are living in desperate humanitarian conditions. They cannot meet even their most basic needs. Putting bread on the table is a daily challenge,” said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi.

“These refugees require timely and adequate humanitarian assistance. Yet, right now we are unable to provide them with the bare essentials or maintain our core refugee protection programmes in this country”.

Two months into 2019, UNHCR is operating with only a fraction of its annual USD104.2 million budget to support and protect refugees and asylum seekers in Egypt.

Despite Egypt’s hospitality and support to refugees, including through the provision of free education and access to health care on an equal footing with Egyptians, many refugees struggle to feed their families, to send their children to school and to keep themselves sheltered. Many are rapidly sinking into debt and poverty, forcing them to resort to most desperate measures to survive, including child labour, early marriages, or are being forced to turn to the streets.

Without timely, predictable and flexible funding, UNHCR’s essential protection activities for refugees and asylum seekers in Egypt - including refugee registration and refugee status determination processes, prevention of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and response programs, legal assistance and child protection activities - are at risk.

UNHCR is particularly concerned about the ability to sustain its protection programs for refugee children – especially those separated from their families. Forty per cent of refugees in Egypt are children. Many arrived in Egypt unaccompanied and are still separated from their families.

For more information on this topic, please contact:

In Cairo, Christine Beshay, beshay@unhcr.org, +2 012 835 798 32
In Amman, Rula Amin, aminr@unhcr.org, +962 790 04 58 49
In Geneva, Shabia Mantoo, mantoo@unhcr.org, + 41 79 337 7650

WASHINGTON, February 27, 2019 — South Sudan has some of the worst health indicators in the world. Child mortality and morbidity rates are high, child malnutrition is severe, maternal mortality is among the highest in the world and endemic diseases present a heavy burden to the already stretched health care system. With a score of 0.30, the country also ranked 156th out of 157 countries globally, in the 2018 Human Capital Index (HCI).

“Years of conflict have had a devastating effect on South Sudan, eroded the already scarce physical and social infrastructure, leaving millions of South Sudanese without proper access to vital health services.” said Sahr Kpundeh, World Bank Country Manager for South Sudan. “the country’s low health indicators highlight the importance and urgency of investing in health and overall human development outcomes in the country" he added.

To help address some of these challenges and support the Government of South Sudan’s efforts to provide citizens with essential health services and strengthen its national health system, the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved grants totaling US$105.4 million from the International Development Association.

Specifically, the new Provision of Essential Health Services Project will help improve geographical coverage of essential health and nutrition services; introduce flexible and dynamic approaches to service delivery such as outreach activities to high risk communities and internally displaced persons; train and deploy community health workers for preventive and basic curative services and train health professionals in various areas including on counseling and treatment for victims of sexual and gender-based violence. The project will also fill critical resource gaps in South Sudan’s public health emergency preparedness, which is crucial given the ongoing Ebola outbreak in bordering Democratic Republic of Congo.

“The project takes on board over a decade of World Bank experience supporting South Sudan’s health sector, as well as integrating lessons learned from the Bank’s support to service delivery in particularly challenging environments around the world.” said Paul Jacob Robyn, World Bank Task Team Leader for the project. “This experience has enabled us to better understand and manage key risks through careful and measured approaches,” he added.

The project, which will be led in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), serves as a strong example of how development and humanitarian service providers can bring their comparative advantages together and work in a complementary manner.

“This partnership will enable us to save lives, making treatment and preventable care available to some of South Sudan’s most vulnerable communities,” said James Reynolds, ICRC’s Head of Delegation in South Sudan.

“The project will strengthen collaboration and coordination of all partners, maximizing each agency’s strengths and advantages, bringing high-impact health services to some of the most vulnerable children and women in the world,” said Mohamed Ag Ayoya, UNICEF’s Representative in South Sudan.

The project is expected to benefit more than 3.5 million people in South Sudan.

ABOUT IDA * The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, helps the world’s poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 77 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change for 2.8 billion people, the majority of whom live on less than $2 a day. Since 1960, IDA has supported development work in 112 countries. Annual commitments have averaged about $18 billion over the last three years, with about 50 percent going to Africa. [This should be added only for Loans and Credits or when specifically speaking about IDA]

PRESS RELEASE NO: 2019/054/AFR

Contacts
Addis
Gelila Woodeneh
+251 662-7700
gwoodeneh@worldbank.org

Overview

France will hold the presidency in March. France and Germany, the Council president in April, will hold a “joint presidency” covering both months.

There will be one open debate on combating the financing of terrorism, during which a resolu-tion may be adopted.

The Council is expected to carry out a visiting mission to Mali. A briefing on the visiting mission and a ministerial meeting on Mali with the par-ticipation of Malian Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga are scheduled shortly after the delegation returns.

Regarding other African issues, there will be briefings, followed by consultations, on South Sudan (UNMISS), the DRC (MONUSCO), and the Great Lakes Region. Consultations are also anticipated on Libya (UNSMIL) and the 1970 Libya sanctions regime. The Council is scheduled to adopt resolutions renewing the mandates of UNMISS, MONUSCO, and UNSOM (Somalia).

The Council will be briefed on Yemen on the implementation of resolution 2452, which estab-lished the UN Mission to support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA). It will also receive the monthly briefings on the humanitarian situation, the political process and the use of chemical weap-ons in Syria.

Other Middle East issues that will be consid-ered include:

• Israel/Palestine, the regular monthly meeting;

• Lebanon, an update on the implementation of resolution 1701, which called for a cessation of hostilities between the Shi’a militant group Hezbollah and Israel in 2006; and

• UNDOF in the Golan Heights, the quarterly report and most recent developments.

Two meetings are anticipated on European issues: Federica Mogherini, the EU High Repre-sentative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, is expected to brief the Council on UN-EU coop-eration in maintaining international peace and security; and Slovakian Foreign Minister Miro-slav Lajčák, the current Chairperson-in-Office for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), will brief on OSCE activities.

Council members anticipate a briefing on Haiti (MINUJUSTH), most likely from Special Representative and head of MINUJUSTH, Helen Meagher La Lime, and will also consider the most recent report on the implementation of resolution 2410—which set a timeline for the gradual draw-down of formed police units—and political and security developments in the context of the 15 April expiry of MINUJUSTH’s mandate.

In a change of practice, the Council will hold its quarterly meeting on Afghanistan (UNAMA)as a briefing, followed by consultations, rather than in debate format, prior to renewing the mis-sion’s mandate later in the month.

The Council is also expected to adopt a resolu-tion renewing the mandate of the Panel of Experts of the 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee.

A briefing of the 1540 Sanctions Committee is also anticipated during the month.

There will be an informal interactive dialogue on the Middle East region. Arria-formula meet-ings are anticipated on women’s participation in peace processes, on Crimea, and on criminal jus-tice and human rights.

Council members will continue to follow closely developments in Venezuela and may meet on this and other issues not on the programme as needed.

KEY MESSAGES

• In West Africa, market supplies are sufficient and regular, despite reported below-average cereal supplies due to withholding of stocks. Current demand is below-average mostly due to reduced institutional purchases. Coarse grain prices in the Sahel are decreasing or stable compared to the previous month and below last year but closer to five-year average levels. Above-average rice prices remained elevated in coastal countries due to currency depreciation and inflation. Disrupted trade activities and atypical market trends persist in insecurity-stricken Greater Lake Chad basin,
  Tibesti region, northern and central Mali, and Liptako-Gourma region (Page 3).

• In East Africa, markets remain severely affected by insecurity and significant macro-economic challenges in Yemen, South Sudan, and Sudan, resulting in significantly above average prices. Improved market supplies following recent harvests put seasonal downward pressure on prices in Uganda, Somalia, and Kenya. Prices increased atypically in Sudan due to the ongoing poor macroeconomic context. Livestock prices started to decline seasonally (Page 4).

• In Southern Africa, domestic maize supplies declined seasonally as the lean season peaked. Maize grain prices were stable or increasing rapidly particularly in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Maize grain was generally able to circulate between surplus and deficit areas, except for Zambia where administrative restrictions on exports have reduced formal and informal export during the 2018/19 marketing year. Export parity prices for maize grain increased significantly in South Africa as the country’s international exports fell from December 2018 levels (Page 5).

• In Central America, maize and bean market supplies are near average and supported by the recent Postrera harvest, carryover stocks, and imports. Maize and bean prices generally followed seasonal trends in January, with maize prices increasing and broadly above average, and bean prices decreasing and broadly below average. In Nicaragua, ongoing political tension continued to affect markets and trade dynamics, especially marketing intermediaries. In Haiti, markets were adequately supplied. Local maize grain and black bean prices increased on average while imported rice prices were mixed. The Haitian gourde stabilized against the USD after depreciating significantly in late 2018 (Page 6).

• Regional availability and price trends varied across Central Asia with the progression of the marketing year (MY). Despite prolonged periods of dryness and belowaverage cumulative precipitation wheat production is expected to be near average, but slightly less than the previous year. Regional wheat deficits are expected to be filled through intra-regional trade (Page 7).

• International staple food markets are well supplied.
  Maize and wheat prices were stable or increasing, while rice prices were stable or decreasing. Soybean prices were stable in most reference markets except in the U.S. (Figure 2). Global crude oil prices increased marginally after falling for two consecutive months, while global fertilizer prices were stable or decreasing (Page 2).

The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) monitors trends in staple food prices in countries vulnerable to food insecurity. For each FEWS NET country and region, the Price Bulletin provides a set of charts showing monthly prices in the current marketing year in selected urban centers and allowing users to compare current trends with both five-year average prices, indicative of seasonal trends, and prices in the previous year.

Staple Food Markets in East Africa: White maize is the main staple grain consumed in Tanzania, Kenya, and Ethiopia. In Uganda, white maize is grown mainly as a commercial crop for export in the region. Imported rice is a major staple for Somalia, which mainly consume belem—the imported red rice. Tanzania is also a major producer and source of rice in the region while Kenya and Uganda are minor producers. Both red and white sorghum are produced and consumed in the region.

This is an important staple in Sudan and Somalia as well as in other marginal agricultural areas of the region. It is also a substitute cereal among the rural poor. Red sorghum is mainly grown in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Somalia. Beans are an important source of protein and a complementary food crop grown in the high potential agricultural areas of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda,
Burundi and Ethiopia. It is consumed across household types. Maize and beans are the most heavily traded commodities in the region. The cooking banana– matoke is the primary staple in Uganda. Uganda is also a main source of cooking and other types of bananas traded in the region especially in Southern Sudan.

However, bananas are not traded nearly as heavily as maize or beans.

Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes in Karamoja expected to intensify until mid-2019

KEY MESSAGES

• Anticipated above-average March to May rainfall in bimodal areas is expected to result in average crop and livestock production and related labor opportunities, though areas prone to flooding and landslides would see localized production shortfalls. Consecutive seasons of near-average bimodal production is expected to maintain Minimal (IPC Phase 1) outcomes through September.

• In Karamoja, household food gaps are expected to widen, particularly in Kotido and Kaabong. Declining wage rates and rising food prices are limiting purchasing power, thereby constraining household food access and increasing the use of negative coping strategies. 2019 production is anticipated to be slightly below-average, driven by reduced area planted as most farmers were unable to save seeds from failed 2018 harvests. Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes are likely to intensify until July, when availability of the harvests will support recovery to Stressed (IPC Phase 2).

• In bimodal Uganda, low staple food prices driven by surplus market supply are enhancing food access. Retail prices of maize, sorghum, and cassava in January were below both the five-year and previous year averages by two to 38 percent, and prices are expected to remain low to near-average throughout the scenario period. However, sorghum prices in northern Karamoja are highly dynamic due to increased household demand and poorer market supply flows. Although prices stabilized in January compared to the five-year average, prices are currently 11 and 50 percent above the five-year average in Nakapiripirit and Kotido markets.

-In refugee settlements, Stressed! (IPC Phase 2!) outcomes are expected to be maintained, driven by humanitarian food assistance and own production. Assistance is planned through September and at least partially funded through May.
However, food security outcomes would deteriorate to Crisis! (IPC Phase 3!) in the event of significant ration cuts.

Pour la première fois depuis leur désignation fin 2017 comme défenseurs des droits des victimes sur le terrain (Field Victims’ Rights Advocates /FVRA) dans les quatre pays d'où émanent la plupart des allégations d'exploitations et d’abus sexuels (République centrafricaine, République démocratique du Congo, Haïti et Soudan du Sud ), les FVRA et la défenseure des droits des victimes des Nations Unies (Victims’ Rights Advocate /VRA), la Sous-Secrétaire générale Jane Connors, se sont réunis, du 19 au 22 février 2019, à Bangui, en République centrafricaine pour évaluer leurs acquis et les défis auxquels ils sont confrontés.

La désignation des FVRA et la nomination de la VRA constituaient un élément central de la stratégie du Secrétaire général mise en relief dans son rapport intitulé "Mesures spéciales contre l'exploitation et les abus sexuels: une nouvelle approche (A/71/818)" laquelle préconisait le respect des droits des victimes comme étant au cœur de l'action de l'ONU contre l'exploitation et les abus sexuels.

Le rôle des défenseurs des droits des victimes sur le terrain consiste à œuvrer au sein du système des Nations Unies pour plaider en faveur de l'adoption d'une approche centrée sur les victimes et fondée sur les droits afin de prévenir et combattre l'exploitation et les abus sexuels perpétrés par le personnel des Nations Unies, aussi bien en uniforme que le personnel civil national et international, y compris ceux employés par des agences, fonds et programmes. Il en est de même pour les forces internationales non-onusiennes déployées sous mandat du Conseil de sécurité. Chaque défenseur des droits des victimes sur le terrain est le principal point de contact pour les victimes d’exploitation et d’abus sexuels.

Lors de la réunion, les défenseurs des droits des victimes sur le terrain ont souligné qu’il importait de répondre aux besoins immédiats et à long terme des victimes, y compris à ceux des enfants nés de l’exploitation et des abus sexuels. En sa qualité de défenseure des droits des victimes, Jane Connors a souligné que « répondre à leurs besoins immédiats peut aider victimes à se transformer en survivants à même de coopérer avec les Nations Unies dans leurs efforts pour que les auteurs rendent compte de leurs actes ». Ils ont aussi reconnu que des possibilités d'éducation offertes aux plus vulnérables pourraient leur éviter de devenir des victimes.

La nécessité de garantir un accès rapide aux fonds pour répondre aux besoins immédiats des victimes a été soulignée, de même que le besoin de disposer de plus de ressources pour aider les FVRA à remplir leur fonction cruciale. Les défis soulevés comprenaient le maintien du contact avec toutes les victimes, en particulier dans des environnements peu sûrs; et veiller à ce que les efforts de prévention et de lutte contre l'exploitation et les abus sexuels dans le pays soient conjoints et étroitement coordonnés.

La Sous-Secrétaire générale Jane Connors a précisé que « bien que beaucoup reste à faire, beaucoup a été accompli », ajoutant qu’« il est rassurant de voir que les droits des victimes sont de plus en plus intégrés dans les efforts de lutte contre l’exploitation et les abus sexuels dans notre système complexe. Ces méfaits ne sont plus considérés principalement comme une atteinte à la réputation de l'Organisation, mais comme un comportement préjudiciable aux individus, aux familles et aux communautés ».

Les premiers résultats de la cartographie-pilote des approches en matière de droits des victimes et des services d’assistance juridique, médicale, psychosociale, à la sécurité, au logement et aux moyens de subsistance aux victimes dans huit pays prioritaires - y compris ceux dotés de FVRA - lancées par le Bureau de la défenseure des droits des victimes était aussi au centre des discussions. La VRA estime que la cartographie fournira des informations de base, y compris des besoins en matière d’assistance, et constituera un facteur déterminant pour améliorer la qualité et la rapidité de l'assistance aux victimes.

Organisée par la Mission multidimensionnelle intégrée des Nations Unies pour la stabilisation en République centrafricaine (MINUSCA), la rencontre a vu la participation des chargés des droits de l'homme et des questions de conduite et discipline, du conseiller principal pour la protection des femmes, des agents du Bureau de la Représentante spéciale adjointe du Secrétaire général, Coordonnateur résident et Coordonnateur humanitaire pour la République centrafricaine, du Bureau du Coordonnateur spécial pour la prévention de l'exploitation, de la violence et des abus sexuels, du Bureau des services de contrôle interne, ainsi que des représentants d’agences, de fonds et de programmes des Nations Unies.

La VRA et la FVRA de la République centrafricaine ont également rencontré des représentants de la Commission nationale des droits de l'Homme et des libertés fondamentales pour discuter de son rôle dans la reddition des comptes aux victimes.

To: All Members of the UN Security Council

Dear Ambassador,

Re: Review of the Mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)

Since the latest conflict in South Sudan began more than five years ago, government and opposition forces and their allied militias have consistently targeted civilians and deliberately obstructed humanitarian agencies from reaching people in need and attacking humanitarian workers. Government and opposition forces have attacked health facilities and schools, burnt villages and looted civilian property, exacerbating a dire humanitarian situation and contributing to the creation of yet another lost generation.

A succession of ceasefires, and two peace agreements, have been signed since the crisis erupted in December 2013, all of which have been violated within a matter of days.

Parties to the conflict continue to commit crimes under international law and other serious human rights violations with near total impunity, wanton brutality and a complete disregard for human life. The government’s failure to hold to account alleged perpetrators of crimes under international law signals to them that their actions will go unpunished, and helps perpetuate the destructive cycles of violence, revenge attacks and conflict in the country.

This situation and the hostile operating environment has made it difficult for the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to fulfil the four pillars of its mandate, namely: to protect civilians, help create conditions for the delivery of humanitarian assistance, monitor and report on human rights violations and abuses, and support the implementation of the peace agreement.

However, UNMISS still has a crucial role to play in South Sudan and the upcoming review of its mandate offers an opportunity to reflect on the changes needed to enable it to effectively execute its mandate.

To begin with, the Security Council should make strong demands on the Government of South Sudan (GoSS) to immediately take concrete and verifiable steps to improve this environment, and the Security Council must be ready to maintain and impose further travel bans and seize financial assets of individuals who are suspected of perpetrating crimes under international law or serious other human rights violations, or misusing public resources to finance such crimes or violations.

We also call on the Security Council to ensure the following measures are undertaken to strengthen fulfilment of the UNMISS mandate:

• The patrols that UNMISS already undertakes should be more strategic and have a stronger deterrent effect by regularly changing routes, being visible, disembarking and patrolling areas on foot, engaging more deeply with the communities whilst on patrol to effectively ensure the safety and security of civilians and protect women and girls from sexual violence.

• UNMISS should strengthen its early warning assessments for conflict and work with communities to identify conflict hot spots and triggers of conflict at the community level.

• The return, resettlement and reintegration of IDPs and refugees be done in a phased approach that is responsive to the dynamics of each PoC site and locality and in line with international human rights law and standards as enshrined in the 1998 UN Minimum Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (the Kampala Convention) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) minimum standards for safe returns, resettlement and reintegration.

• UNMISS act swiftly and sternly, with the backing of the Security Council, to any act of violence or bureaucratic hurdle that negatively affects the much-needed humanitarian assistance.

• UNMISS steps up its efforts and continues to increase the frequency of public reporting of human rights violations and abuses and consider more and shorter flash reports to promptly expose violations and abuses by State and non-state actors.

• The UNMISS Human Rights Division (HRD) strengthen its efforts to collect and preserve information on individuals implicated in human rights violations and abuses for the purpose of future vetting processes, and in line with the United Nations Human Rights Due Diligence Policy on support to non UN Security Forces.

• UNMISS should proactively share information with the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan (CHRSS) with due regard to the rights of witnesses and victims.

• UNMISS take all efforts to create a safe environment that enables civil society actors to operate freely and securely. The UNMISS Human Rights Division (HRD) should proactively investigate and issue periodic public reports on freedom of expression and opinion, peaceful assembly and association and related rights.

• UNMISS should strengthen collaboration with civil society actors that are still able to operate in South Sudan, especially those that monitor, document and report on human rights violations and abuses. Collaboration should extend to logistical support to these actors as well as longer-term and hands-on capacity-building support and technical assistance.

• UNMISS Military Liaison Officers (MLOs) should be empowered to report more proactively and detailed on the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) and troop movements to the Security Council to inform its swift action in engaging with parties to prevent or end violations.

• UNMISS should prioritize technical support to the transitional justice process by strengthening its transitional justice department as well as foster more political will for the process.

• UNMISS should actively be involved in the security sector reform process and the cantonment and training of the joint forces.

• UNMISS should collaborate with other actors to actively pursue accountability for crimes under international law and other human rights violations and abuses in South Sudan.