A/HRC/31/49 (f) Respect and promote the role of civil society, including by ensuring that freedoms of opinion and expression and of peaceful assembly are guaranteed, and ensure the protection of human rights defenders and journalists; (g) With regard to other transitional justice measures referred to in the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, support genuine consultations, including by means of public education programmes, so that there is informed participation by victims, women’s groups and all stakeholders, and needs assessment to inform the efforts aimed at achieving truth, reparations, reconciliation and guarantees of non-recurrence. 75. With regard to criminal justice accountability measures, the High Commissioner also recommends that the transitional Government of national unity: (a) Extend full cooperation and support to the hybrid court by assisting its investigations and complying with its rulings; (b) Consider the establishment of a specialized judicial structure in South Sudan courts focusing on violations and abuses amounting to international crimes, supported by specifically appointed judges, prosecutors, lawyers and law enforcement officials, with the possibility of embedding international legal actors to work with South Sudanese officials. Its jurisdiction would be complementary to that of the hybrid court. 76. The High Commissioner recommends that the African Union Commission: (a) Establish promptly a hybrid court for South Sudan; (b) Establish a designated unit in the hybrid court that provides support to victims and witnesses, including of sexual violence, with special measures in the case of children, and ensures their safety and security before, during and after proceedings; (c) Create a unit within the hybrid court dedicated to awareness-raising on the role, functions and processes of the hybrid court, including with regard to crimes of sexual violence, and promote the full participation of victims in the pretrial, trial, sentencing and reparations stages. 77. The High Commissioner recommends that the Human Rights Council: (a) Continue to monitor developments in South Sudan, and to that end consider the establishment of a dedicated mechanism on South Sudan to report on progress towards accountability and the situation of human rights; (b) Encourage relevant special procedures to visit South Sudan; (c) Share a copy of the present report with the General Assembly and the Security Council for deliberation. 78. The High Commissioner recommends that the international community consider applying a phased approach to the provision of technical assistance to State institutions in South Sudan on the basis of progress made in the establishment of the transitional Government of national unity, and in the meantime consider providing support for civil society organizations and the national human rights commission of South Sudan. 79. The High Commissioner recommends that the Security Council: (a) Remain seized of the matter of criminal accountability for serious violations of international humanitarian law and gross violations and abuses of 15

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