\n<\/p>\n
Women and girls continue to be gang-raped and survivors have been described as \u201czombies, physically and emotionally dead\u201d<\/strong>, according to the UN Commission on Human Rights in the world\u2019s youngest nation.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In an alert, Commission chairperson, Yasmin Sooka, said that it was critical for the international community to monitor the country\u2019s peace agreement, along with other reforms \u2013 including of the armed forces and the constitution.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Transitional justice bodies are also urgently needed, as per an agreement made four years ago by the country\u2019s Government, the Commission noted.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWithout these steps, we are likely to see millions more South Sudanese displaced or crossing borders<\/strong>, creating havoc for neighbouring countries and aid agencies,” Ms. Sooka said.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n According to South Sudan\u2019s 2018 peace agreement, elections have been postponed until late 2024. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n But conditions must be peaceful for a national poll to happen and South Sudanese people \u201cwho have questioned the government or exposed atrocities have received death threats, been detained or tortured\u201d, the rights commission explained.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The panel noted that none of the three proposed transitional justice bodies agreed in 2018 have been created, namely the Commission on Truth, Reconciliation and Healing, the Hybrid Court or the Compensation and Reparation Authority.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The independent rights panel \u2013 which was established by the Human Rights Council in 2016 \u2013 said that \u201cwomen raped by armed forces while collecting firewood are threatened with death if they report it\u201d<\/strong>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Often, the police are too ill-equipped to do their job; \u201cthey cannot arrest a soldier who is better armed and protected the Commission said in a recent <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>statement<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nPolice the peace<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Death threats<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n