Press briefing note on South Sudan

Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Rupert Colville
Date: 7 June 2019
Location: Geneva
Subject: (3) South Sudan

(3) South Sudan

We welcome the unanimous ratification, without reservations of two vital human rights treaties this week by the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) of South Sudan.

The TNLA on Monday ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), as well as the First Optional Protocols to both instruments, which establish individual complaints procedures. Once the decision is signed by the President of South Sudan, the Government will need to deposit instruments of accession to the UN Secretary-General. The treaties and optional protocols will enter into force for South Sudan three months after the date of accession.

The Human Rights Division of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has provided technical support throughout the ratification process, which began in 2015.

ENDS

For more information and media requests, please contact: Rupert Colville - + 41 22 917 9767 / rcolville@ohchr.orgor Ravina Shamdasani - + 41 22 917 9169 / rshamdasani@ohchr.org or Marta Hurtado - + 41 22 917 9466 / mhurtado@ohchr.org

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