UN Human Rights officials in fact finding mission in the Horn of Africa

By Fauxile Kibet

Members of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights are on have kicked off an 11 day field mission in South Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia.

The three commissioners led by Chairperson Yasmin Sooka are expected to meet top government officials from the respective countries as well as members of the civil society, religious leaders, diplomats and UN agencies.

In a press release sent by the global Human Rights body, the commissioners will meet officials from the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) including the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in South Sudan, David Shearer, to discuss the current human rights situation in the country.

“The Commissioners also intend to visit camps for internally displaced persons across the country, including UNMISS Protection of Civilian (PoC) sites, to meet the people living there, community leaders and civil society organizations,” the statement reads in part.

The human rights officials will also tour Uganda, Sudan and Kenya, where they will visit refugee camps and settlements along the South Sudanese border.

“The Commissioners will conclude their mission in Ethiopia on 30 and 31 August holding meetings with African Union leaders, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), senior UN officials, as well as other members of the international community.”

The Commission is an independent body mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to, among other things; determine and report the facts and circumstances of, collect and preserve evidence of, and clarify responsibility for alleged gross violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes, including sexual and gender-based violence and ethnic violence, with a view to ending impunity and providing accountability