A/HRC/21/34 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 18/17, in which the Council invited the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in collaboration with the Government of South Sudan, to identify and assess areas of assistance and, upon its request, to assist the Government in its efforts to promote and protect human rights, and to present a report on the implementation of resolution 18/17 to the Council at its twenty-first session. 2. In resolution 18/17, the Human Rights Council acknowledged the commitments made by the Government of South Sudan to strengthen national mechanisms of promotion and protection of human rights, and called on the Government to implement those commitments. The Council also encouraged the international community to provide the Government with technical and financial assistance, and to support the Government in its efforts to to promote and protect human rights. 3. From 8 to 12 May 2012, the High Commissioner visited South Sudan, where she met with the President of South Sudan and senior Government officials, the South Sudan Human Rights Commission, the Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and other United Nations partners, and civil society organizations. She also conducted a field visit to Bor in Jonglei State. The mission provided the High Commissioner with an opportunity to witness first-hand the situation of human rights in South Sudan and to hold discussions with a variety of stakeholders on ways and means to advance the human rights agenda in the country. 4. Subsequently, a team of OHCHR staff members carried out a mission to South Sudan, from 13 to 18 May 2012. Building on the visit of the High Commissioner, they held in-depth meetings at the working level with various State actors, including representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Human Rights Commission, the Legal and Constitutional Review Commission, the Human Rights and Humanitarian Committee of the South Sudan National Assembly, as well as with the Deputy Chief Justice of South Sudan. The team also met with officials of UNMISS and other United Nations agencies and bodies operating in the country, as well as with representatives of national and international non-governmental organizations. 5. The present report is based on information made available to OHCHR by the Government of South Sudan, UNMISS and other sources, including United Nations agencies funds and programmes in South Sudan. 6. On 26 April 2012, OHCHR sent a note verbale to all Member States accredited to the United Nations Office in Geneva and to all United Nations agencies, funds and programmes to solicit information on assistance they may provide in South Sudan. Contributions were received from Canada, Greece, Luxembourg, Mexico, Norway, Slovakia and Spain, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the United Nations Population Fund, all of which currently fund and implement human rights-related programmes in South Sudan. 7. A draft copy of the present report was shared with the Government of South Sudan for factual comments. 8. OHCHR wishes to thank the Government of South Sudan, UNMISS, the United Nations agencies operating in South Sudan and the members of civil society organizations for their cooperation and contribution to the present report. 3