A/HRC/RES/S-26/1 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, Expressing concern that the situation in South Sudan continues to be characterized by impunity, Expressing particular concern at the severe reduction of democratic space in South Sudan, including through the heightened restrictions on freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, including attacks on journalists and media workers, and the limitations on the operations of civil society, human rights defenders and the media, and stressing the responsibility of the Government to address these issues in accordance with the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, Recognizing that transitional justice mechanisms are important elements in a national reconciliation process and in implementing the Agreement, including by addressing accountability, reparations, truth-seeking and guarantees of non-recurrence, Welcoming the African Union Peace and Security Council communiqué of 26 September 2015, which, inter alia, reaffirmed the commitment of the African Union to combating impunity, reiterated condemnation of the violence and abuses committed by armed actors in South Sudan, and agreed to the establishment of an independent hybrid court pursuant to the Agreement, and in this regard inviting the Chairperson of the African Union Commission to take all steps necessary to establish this body, Underlining the role that domestic, regional and international accountability mechanisms can play in assisting South Sudan to ensure accountability, 1. Condemns the ongoing violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law in South Sudan, including those involving alleged targeted killings, ethnically targeted violence, rape and other forms of sexual and genderbased violence, the widespread recruitment and use of children, arbitrary arrests and detention, alleged torture, arbitrary denial of humanitarian access and attacks on schools, places of worship, hospitals and United Nations and associated peacekeeping personnel, by all parties, also condemns the harassment and violence directed at civil society, human rights defenders, humanitarian personnel and journalists, and emphasizes that those responsible for violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law must be held accountable; 2. Condemns in the strongest possible terms the widespread sexual and genderbased violence, including rape and gang rape, which can be used as a weapon of war, in complete impunity, by all armed groups; 3