A/HRC/45/CRP.4 for serious crimes, gross violations of human rights, and violations of international humanitarian law set up by the UN Human Rights Council, and the public acknowledgement by all parties to the conflict of the sheer loss that South Sudanese have experienced. Participants also recognised, however, that there is need for tangible remedies and reparation measures that will guarantee non-recurrence of conflict and related violations in future, such as the Hybrid Court and constitutional and institutional reforms within the security and justice sectors. IV. Security and political context 21. H.E. Paulino Wanawilla Unango, Minister of Justice, Government of South Sudan, observed that the prevailing security and political context in South Sudan has not been conducive for the effective initiation of transitional justice. Although there has been a decline in widespread armed fighting since the adoption of the R-ARCSS, there is still on-going conflict and insecurity in parts of the country, including recruitment of local “youth” and children, contrary to the permanent ceasefire agreements. 22. South Sudanese human rights activists emphasised that civic and political space is still severely constricted and South Sudan is essentially run as a police-state. Participants additionally submitted that the Government has restricted dissemination of the peace agreement, demonstrating its lack of political will to ensure citizens’ full and meaningful participation in implementation of anticipated transitional justice and reform measures. 23. The participants were informed by civil society organisations that they must seek approval to assemble or conduct their civic activities from the National Security Service (NSS), which operates as a fully-fledged military operating unit, contrary to its constitutional function of collecting security intelligence. Civil society organisations supporting accountability for serious crimes and violations are also targeted for surveillance, leading to arbitrary arrests and detention in many cases. Victims and witnesses fear reprisal from authorities if they were to report violations or seek justice. Therefore, they have shunned formal judicial systems. 24. Hon. Angelina Teny observed an overall lack of political will to uphold and implement the agreements reached in the R-ARCSS. Critical political interventions anticipated in the peace agreement, including establishment of the Transitional Unity Government, had not been initiated at the time of the workshop, leading to heightened anxiety and confusion among citizens on advancement of the R-ARCSS and its Chapter V transitional justice measures. Japhet Bigeon from Amnesty International noted that there had been strong resistance to justice and accountability measures from political actors, with some expressing apprehension against the establishment of the Hybrid Court, which they perceive to be a tool for regime change. Dr Lam Akol’s opinion was that, consequently, more attention was given to the National Dialogue, which is widely viewed as a parallel process intended to circumvent accountability mechanisms in the peace agreement. 25. Deliberations at the workshop culminated in the following proposals for measures to be taken by State and non-State actors to address the adverse security and political situation in South Sudan: IGAD Address the linkages between regional economic and political dimensions of the conflict in South Sudan, which may explain the disinterest of neighbouring countries in supporting implementation of the peace agreement. Explore avenues to build trust and confidence among political actors on the significance of accountability processes in achieving sustainable peace, national reconciliation, and healing in South Sudan. The buy-in of the 31