South Sudanese and international non-governmental organizations – including PAX – wrote a letter to H.E. Salva Kiir, President of South Sudan, urging him to ratify the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
In the current conflict, which broke out on 15 December last year, serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law have occurred, including attacks on civilians, looting and destruction of civilian property, acts of rape and other forms of sexual violence. Prompt ratification of the African Charter would demonstrate the government’s commitment to the improvement of the human rights situation in South Sudan.
In May 2013 the South Sudanese Council of Ministers already adopted a resolution approving the African Charter. The National Legislative Assembly pleaded for ratifying the African Charter in October 2013. South Sudan became a member of the African Union after its independence in 2011, but has, for almost three years now, been the only member state of the African Union that has not ratified the African Charter.
Read more: Letter
Read more: Resolution