JUBA - 12 Dec 2013

Growing threats against human rights defenders in South Sudan

Human rights defenders in South Sudan are increasingly threatened, a new report of a coalition of human rights organisations in East Africa concludes. “Since 2010, journalists in particular have been most at risk to routine arrests, attacks, and intimidation by police and security forces,” according to the researchers. The authorities detained even last week several reporters and confiscated newspapers.

The report is published by the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP). A member of the human rights advocacy organisation says in an interview that “as human rights defenders, you are not sure of your next move. You can disappear. Threats are common in South Sudan.” Their office was raided in 2012, allegedly because of their high profile on human rights advocacy. According to the report, “NGOs have come to be misunderstood, vilified and routinely attacked (both rhetorically and physically) by the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement”, as they often report on South Sudan's human rights record.

EHAHRDP has “growing concerns” about the safety of human rights defenders: “There is no freedom of media, which will make it a very challenging time.” The researchers found that the government should act decisively to ensure protection. Concrete steps need to be taken to protect South Sudan's human rights defenders. More thorough investigations on all reported threats against humanitarians is one of the first steps, according to EHAHRDP.

File photo: A Sudanese journalist during protests against censorship in Khartoum 2008