A/HRC/S-26/2 Noting with grave concern the conclusions of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan in its reports dated 8 May 2014 and 4 December 2015 and the report of the African Union Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan of 15 October 2014 that the violations and abuses of human rights and the violations of international humanitarian law that have been committed may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, Recalling that the Government of South Sudan has the primary responsibility to protect all populations in the country from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, Gravely concerned about ongoing reports of increased levels of sexual and genderbased violence and instances of conflict-related rape and gang rape, coupled with beating and abductions, including as reported by the Secretary-General to the Security Council in February 2016,3 and including the sexual and gender-based violence committed against women and girls in July and August 2016 during the outbreak of fighting in Juba, Expressing grave concern at the wholesale destruction of villages, the targeting of civilians and health-care facilities, the attacks on places of worship, the attack on the protection-of-civilians site of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan in Malakal on 17 and 18 February 2016, sexual violence against women exiting protection-of-civilians sites throughout the country, the continued obstruction and extortion of humanitarian assistance convoys and the wholesale looting and destruction of humanitarian compounds in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, Unity and Upper Nile States and Juba, Condemning in the strongest terms the violence that broke out between the Government and the armed opposition in early July 2016, and urging all parties to pursue the path of a peaceful resolution to the existing conflict, Condemning in the strongest terms also all attacks against humanitarian personnel and facilities that have resulted in the death of at least 67 humanitarian personnel since December 2013, including the attack on the Terrain compound on 11 July 2016 and attacks against medical workers and facilities, Emphasizing the inviolability of United Nations premises, and underlining that attacks against civilians and United Nations premises may constitute war crimes, Expressing grave concern that civilians who sought safety in the protection-ofcivilians site of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan have been attacked, killed, traumatized and displaced, and that serious damage was caused to the entire site, including to medical clinics and schools, which were burned down and destroyed, Recalling the need for all parties to the conflict to allow and facilitate, pursuant to United Nations guiding principles of humanitarian assistance, including humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, the full, safe and unhindered access of relief personnel, equipment and supplies and the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance to all those in need, in particular to internally displaced persons and refugees, Recognizing the importance of providing timely assistance and protection to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, including sexual and reproductive health, psychosocial, legal and livelihood support and other multi-sectoral services for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, taking into account the specific needs of persons with disabilities, Emphasizing the importance of the rule of law as one of the key elements of conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and peacebuilding, 3 S/2016/138. 3