A/HRC/PRST/25/2 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 16 April 2014 Original: English Human Rights Council Twenty-fifth session Agenda item 1 Organizational and procedural matters Statement by the President PRST 25/2. Situation of human rights in South Sudan At the 56th meeting, held on 28 March 2014, the President of the Human Rights Council read out the following statement: “The Human Rights Council: 1. Expresses deep concern at and deplores the situation of human rights resulting from the crisis and violence that broke out in mid-December 2013 in South Sudan; 2. Acknowledges the relevant communiqués and resolutions issued by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the African Union and the United Nations, and the statements made by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in which they urged the parties to the conflict to protect the civilian population from violence and to ensure full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; 3. Calls upon the parties to the conflict to put an end to all violations and abuses of human rights, and violations of international humanitarian law, including attacks against and killings of civilians, the displacement of populations and sexual and gender-based violence, and to implement the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and its Implementation Modalities, as well as to show their political will and commitment to end the conflict through inclusive dialogue, reconciliation and peacebuilding; 4. Expresses support for the democratically elected Government of South Sudan, encourages it to investigate the root causes of the crisis and the violence that broke out in mid-December 2013, and reiterates that all perpetrators of atrocities must be held accountable; 5. Commends the leading role played by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development in mediating between the parties to the conflict in GE.14-13813 *1413813*