A/HRC/23/31 from violent inter-ethnic clashes over the distribution of resources, political posts and employment opportunities. Mediation or peace processes have sometimes succeeded in mitigating these conflicts, but fundamental schisms need to be overcome if a sense of national identity that also respects ethnic diversity is to be forged. 8. Inter-communal violence, including that related to cattle raiding, is claiming a large numbers of lives, and remains common during the dry season, particularly in Jonglei State and the tri-State area (borders of Lakes, Warrap and Unity). Such attacks often involve not only killings but also the abduction of women and children. The theft of large numbers of cattle deprives the affected communities of their principal or indeed sole livelihood. Efforts by the State to exercise its authority, in particular through the deployment of security forces, appear to have had some impact in containing the phenomenon, with inter-ethnic violence declining from the levels recorded in 2011-2012. Nevertheless, an UNMISS investigation documented more than 100 killings resulting from an ambush by cattle raiders on migrating pastoralists on 8 February 2013; furthermore, between January and April 2013, more than 100 people were reportedly killed in the tri-State area as a result of cattle raids. 9. Humanitarian needs remain substantial, especially in areas such as Jonglei, where insecurity has continued to produce waves of displacement, and in Upper Nile and Unity, where the influx of refugees from fighting in neighbouring Sudanese States increased towards the end of 2012. South Sudanese returnees, primarily from the Sudan, have also increased the demand for support, with more than 150,000 registered by the International Organization for Migration, and a further 125,000 still expected. Throughout the country, the World Food Programme estimates that 4.1 million people are at risk of food insecurity. 10. More than 90 per cent of the population is estimated to live below the poverty level. At least 50 per cent of all children do not attend school, and only 39 per cent of those who do are girls. Child and early marriage continues to present an obstacle to girls’ education, and raises health concerns and serious protection issues relating to sexual exploitation. High levels of illiteracy have also had an impact on the capacity to improve respect for human rights. 11. Over the past 12 months, some headway has been made on key transitional processes that will lead to elections in 2015. Government approval was given for a national census to be conducted in 2014. The National Elections Commission was inaugurated in January 2013, with a request for technical, logistical and operational support presented to the United Nations on 12 February for the scheduled elections. Members of a political parties council have been named. 12. Progress on developing a new Constitution has been extremely slow; this is a major concern, given that it is a core element of the transition process. There are also serious constraints on the right to freedom of expression and assembly, with threats and attacks against journalists and civil society actors when perceived to be critical of or in opposition to the Government. Media laws have been under development for some time, but are still under parliamentary review, where amendments have been proposed to improve protection for the right to freedom of expression. 13. Numerous hurdles therefore remain, including the need to ensure that space for political pluralism is protected, allowing civil society to play an open and critical role and, equally important, expediting the transition from a principally military and militarized environment to a peaceful, multiparty and civilian-led process of democratization. 4