A/HRC/RES/31/20 and 4 December 2015, and the reports of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,1 Deeply concerned also about the prevailing situation in South Sudan, which is marked by the atrocities committed since the outbreak of violence in December 2013, acute food insecurity, a deepening economic crisis and the dire humanitarian crisis, producing mass displacements within South Sudan and outside the country, access restrictions and other impediments to humanitarian assistance, while commending humanitarian agencies for their continued assistance to the affected populations, and urging all actors concerned to cooperate fully with humanitarian agencies, Noting with grave concern the conclusions of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan in its reports dated 8 May 2014 and 4 December 2015 that the violations and abuses of human rights and the violations of international humanitarian law that have been committed may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, Gravely concerned about the increase in sexual and gender-based violence and instances of conflict-related rape and gang rape, coupled with beating and abductions, as reported by the Secretary-General to the Security Council in February 2016,2 Expressing grave concern at the new trend of wholesale destruction of villages, indiscriminate targeting of civilians and health-care facilities, attacks on places of worship, the attack on the protection-of-civilians site of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan in Malakal, the continued obstruction and extortion of humanitarian assistance convoys and the wholesale looting and destruction of humanitarian compounds in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, Unity and Upper Nile States and Juba, Condemning in the strongest terms the violence which erupted in the protection-ofcivilians site of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan in Malakal on 17 and 18 February 2016, and emphasizing the inviolability and sanctity of the United Nations compound, Underlining that attacks against civilians and United Nations premises may constitute war crimes, Expressing concern that civilians who sought safety in the protection-of-civilians site of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan have been attacked, killed, traumatized and displaced, and that serious damage was caused to the entire site, including to medical clinics and schools, which were burned down and destroyed, Recalling that the protection of civilians in South Sudan is a responsibility of the Government of South Sudan, Urging all parties to the conflict in South Sudan to protect civilians and allow safe and immediate humanitarian access, Emphasizing that mediation can play an important role in the peaceful settlement of disputes, conflict resolution and prevention, including the prevention of human rights violations and abuses, Expressing particular concern at the reduction of democratic space in South Sudan, including through the heightened restrictions on freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, including attacks on journalists and media workers, and limitations on the operations of civil society and the media, and in this regard noting with concern that the 1 2 2 See A/HRC/31/49 and A/HRC/31 CRP.6, which were made publicly available only after the start of the thirty-first session of the Human Rights Council on 11 March 2016. S/2016/138.