A/HRC/31/49 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 22 April 2016 Original: English Human Rights Council Thirty-first session Agenda item 2 Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General Assessment mission by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to improve human rights, accountability, reconciliation and capacity in South Sudan* Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Summary The present report, prepared pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 29/13, contains the main findings of the comprehensive assessment conducted by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights into allegations of violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law in South Sudan since the outbreak of violence in December 2013. The Office of the High Commissioner examines alleged violations and abuses committed by State actors and non-State armed groups during the conflict, with particular focus on the worst affected states of Unity and Upper Nile States, and also Western and Central Equatoria, where the conflict has spread. An overview of the way forward towards accountability is also provided, including ensuring the implementation of the transitional justice and accountability mechanisms included in the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, signed in August 2015. In the report, the Office of the High Commissioner also examines the impact of technical assistance and capacity-building services provided to government institutions. It concludes with recommendations addressed to all parties to the conflict, the transitional Government of national unity, the international community, the African Union Commission, the Human Rights Council and the Security Council. * The present report was submitted after the deadline in order to reflect the most recent developments. GE.16-06629(E) 