A/HRC/28/53 noted that some form of restitution was necessary at the community level, and expressed the hope that the work of IGAD would contribute to the healing and reconciliation process. 12. Speaking on behalf of the Chair of the IGAD Mediation Team on South Sudan, the Permanent Representative of Ethiopia stated that IGAD continued to stress the principles of the rule of law and human rights as the cornerstones of the peace process. He noted that IGAD continued to urge the parties to the conflict to comply with the agreements negotiated and to fulfil their obligations under national and international law, stressing that IGAD would not hesitate to take action against those who would obstruct the peace process, and hold them accountable. He acknowledged that the IGAD-led talks continued to face challenges, as fighting had continued and the parties had failed to abide by the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed in January 2014. He noted that, since the outbreak of the conflict, millions of lives had been put at risk, education and health services had been interrupted, and the humanitarian situation had become dire. He stressed that IGAD was aware of the acute need for a comprehensive agreement that would address the root causes of the crisis and create conditions for genuine and far-reaching reforms. 13. The Chair of the Human Rights Commission of South Sudan stated that the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights provided a detailed account of the magnitude of the human rights abuses and violations committed in the course of the conflict, which could not be ignored. He noted that the findings of the report underscored the need for accountability and for mechanisms for truth-telling and reparation. 14. He explained that the Human Rights Commission had a constitutional mandate to promote human rights, to monitor and report on the human rights situation in the country, and to make recommendations and advise the Government. The Commission had organized a national human rights forum in 2012, which had raised awareness of human rights throughout the country. The Chair referred to a report published by the Commission in July 2014, which revealed that over 10,000 people had lost their lives since the beginning of the conflict. He highlighted some of the major human rights challenges in South Sudan, which included protection of the right to life, the prevailing ethnic tensions between the Dinka and Nuer populations, and the deteriorating environment for the exercise of the right to freedom of expression. 15. The Chair of the Human Rights Commission of South Sudan urged the parties to the conflict to respect and implement the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed in January 2014. He also called on the United Nations to expedite the deployment of IGAD monitors and United Nations peacekeepers, and to support UNMISS and regional bodies for the monitoring of human rights violations and abuses. 16. The Director of the Human Rights Division of UNMISS noted that the situation in South Sudan warranted the close attention of the Human Rights Council, and he commended the Council for holding the panel discussion. He stated that UNMISS was closely monitoring the human rights situation and had documented numerous incidents of deliberate targeting of civilians; gender-based violence, including rape; arbitrary arrest and detention; torture; forced disappearance; looting; and attacks on hospitals, churches and mosques. UNMISS reports had confirmed that ethnically targeted killings and inter-clan murders were common occurrences. He noted that freedom of expression had been severely curtailed, with repeated attacks on journalists and civil society organizations. He also stressed that the targeted killings of humanitarian workers had further impeded the provision of humanitarian support to civilians. 17. The Director of the Human Rights Division of UNMISS said that there were strong reasons to believe that crimes against humanity had been committed, in light of the widespread and systematic nature of the violence, and that such acts had been committed by both parties to the conflict. He noted that in spite of pledges by both sides to hold 5