A/HRC/28/53 particularly with regard to food insecurity, and about the acute protection challenges faced by internally displaced persons. 24. Some delegations expressed concern about the deteriorating environment for the exercise of freedom of expression, which included widespread intimidation and harassment of human rights defenders and journalists. Several delegations also noted the atmosphere of fear and repression against civil society organizations, which had prevented their participation in IGAD-led peace talks in Addis Ababa. 25. Several delegations welcomed the role of the African Union Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan in investigating the human rights violations and abuses and encouraged the Commission to make recommendations on the best way to ensure accountability. They called on the Human Rights Council, other United Nations bodies, specialized agencies and other stakeholders to support the work of the African Union and other regional mechanisms in regard to South Sudan. 26. Several delegations called for the creation of a special procedures mandate to monitor and report to the Human Rights Council on the human rights situation in South Sudan. IV. Conclusion 27. The panellists made concluding remarks in response to some of the comments and questions from the plenary discussion. The Chair of the African Union Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan stated that the Commission’s report would be completed and submitted to the African Union in the first half of October 2014. He indicated that the Commission would accept support from all those willing to assist with the implementation of its findings and recommendations. 28. The Minister of Justice of South Sudan stated that, in regard to freedom of expression, a media law had been adopted, as a legitimate instrument in conformity with international law. He also mentioned that the National Assembly would pass a national security law in due course. 29. In his concluding remarks, the Chair of the Human Rights Commission of South Sudan mentioned that the Commission supported the task assigned to regional institutions of monitoring the human rights situation in South Sudan. He stressed that any accountability mechanism adopted in a future peace agreement should be negotiated in such a way as to ensure the parties’ commitment and better implementation. He warned that the peace process should not be rushed, so as to ensure that it would be comprehensive and thorough and would involve all relevant stakeholders. 30. The Director of the Human Rights Division of UNMISS assured the Human Rights Council that the Mission was committed to fulfilling its mandate to monitor the human rights situation in South Sudan with the highest standards of verification. He stressed that the promotion and protection of human rights was an international obligation which required the engagement of regional and international mechanisms. In that regard, he underlined the importance of the Human Rights Council’s responsibility to continue playing its role for improvement of the human rights situation in South Sudan. 7