Enough, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty urge Security Council to impose new targeted sanctions
September 15, 2015 – The Russian and Angolan governments today chose to put a hold on the proposed imposition of UN Security Council sanctions on a leading South Sudan government official and leading rebel leader. This blocking action undermines the pledge by the Security Council to impose serious consequences for those obstructing peace in South Sudan.
To reinforce the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for human rights abuses, the Enough Project, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International issued a joint statement today. The statement calls for further targeted sanctions on individuals responsible for crimes under international law and serious violations of human rights in South Sudan, as well as imposition of a comprehensive arms embargo.
John Prendergast, Founding Director of the Enough Project, said: "It is imperative that continued human rights abuses and ceasefire violations in South Sudan be met with real consequences from the international community. Decisions are being made on both the government and rebel side to undermine the implementation of the peace deal. If there is no cost for that intransigence and for the human rights crimes that result, then we can expect the war to continue, business as usual."
Link to today’s joint statement by the Enough Project, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International: http://eno.ug/1Ko5tZz
Read the full statement below:
September 15, 2015
Dear Ambassador,
We understand the UN Security Council will deliberate this week on the situation in South Sudan.
As you know, although South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and armed opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar signed a binding agreement to end the conflict in their country, fighting has continued in Unity and Upper Nile states. As our organizations have documented in detail, the 21-month conflict in South Sudan has been characterized by war crimes and other acts that may also amount to crimes against humanity, and it has clearly been fueled by impunity.
Given the high probability of continuing serious abuses against civilians as part of the ongoing fighting, we urge you to impose a comprehensive arms embargo.
Since this conflict began, fighting and abuses have forced over 2 million people to flee their homes and thousands of civilians have been killed, often targeted because of their ethnicity or perceived political allegiance. The likelihood of further attacks on civilians in South Sudan remains high. A well-monitored arms embargo can reduce the flow and entry of weapons and military equipment into the country that could be used to commit further crimes against civilians.
The Council should also continue to impose sanctions on individuals responsible for crimes under international law and serious violations and abuses of human rights. While the August peace deal may prove to be an important step forward to ending conflict and abuse in South Sudan, it cannot absolve those most responsible for human rights abuses.
Sincerely,
Amnesty International
Enough Project
Human Rights Watch
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About THE ENOUGH PROJECT
The Enough Project seeks to build leverage for peace and justice in Africa by helping to create real consequences for the perpetrators and facilitators of genocide and other mass atrocities. Enough aims to counter rights-abusing armed groups and violent kleptocratic regimes that are fueled by grand corruption, transnational crime and terror, and the pillaging and trafficking of minerals, ivory, diamonds, and other natural resources. Enough conducts field research in conflict zones, develops and advocates for policy recommendations, supports social movements in affected countries, and mobilizes public campaigns. Learn more – and join us – at www.EnoughProject.org