UN / SOUTH SUDAN
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STORY: UN / SOUTH SUDAN
TRT: 3:03
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 25 JUNE 2019, NEW YORK CITY
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, UNHQ exterior
25 JUNE 2019, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan, United Nations:
“The drop off in political violence - based on the trend of past years – has meant hundreds, if not thousands of people, are alive who otherwise would not be. Many displaced families have decided it is safe, and time, to return to their homes.”
4. Med shot, delegates
5. SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan, United Nations:
“Mr. President, we should be frank. The fighting has stopped because the leaders ordered their soldiers to stop. If it resumes - against the will of the people - it will be because those same leaders want it, and ordered it, to happen.”
6. Wide shot, delegates
7. SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan, United Nations:
“We should see the peace agreement as a living document, not set in stone. There are no pre-transitional tasks that cannot be achieved within a unified transitional administration. In fact, there are advantages to decisions made collectively within a transitional government, because they will be made collectively, transparently, and will be better able to be held to account by citizens.”
8. Wide shot, delegates
9. SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan, United Nations:
“In two weeks, South Sudan will celebrate its 8th anniversary of gaining independence. With that sovereignty comes responsibility, an obligation that is acknowledged only rarely, including for leaders to use the country s resources in the best interests of their citizens, and not their own. The message from the people of South Sudan that we have heard in that regard is very clear. Live up to your responsibility and give us peace.”
10. Wide shot, Security Council
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Gilmour, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, United Nations:
“Despite all this evidence though, no significant action has been taken against the perpetrators. And to break the longstanding cycle of impunity as well as to prevent future violations, we believe that the transitional justice mechanisms outlined in the peace agreement are implemented. the Government of South Sudan has not yet signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the African Union for the establishment of the hybrid court.”
12. Wide shot, delegates
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Lydia Minagano, Project Manager, Peace Implementation Monitoring Initiative (PIMI):
“Women make the majority of my country’s population and South Sudan cannot afford to ignore us. Giving us the resources we need to participate in the future of our country will directly contribute to South Sudan’s peace, stability, and development.”
14. Wide shot, Security Council
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Akuei Bona Malwal, Permanent Representative of South Sudan to the United Nations:
“While doctor Riek Machar is not in Juba, I can assure the Council that there are close contacts going on between him and President Salva Kiir. We were all, of course, disappointed that – we were hoping that will fly together from Rome to Juba. Nevertheless, we think he will be in Juba soon, before November.”
16. Wide shot, Security Council
UN Special Representative for South Sudan David Shearer said the peace agreement in the country continues to hold adding that the drop in political violence “has meant hundreds, if not thousands of people, are alive who otherwise would not be.”
Addressing the Security Council today (25 Jun), Shearer said many displaced families “have decided it is safe, and time, to return to their homes,” with more than half a million people having done so since the revitalized peace agreement was signed.
The Special Representative however highlighted that the latest food security analysis remained dire with some seven million people facing crisis levels or worse. Still, for the first time in years, some counties would see slight improvements where relative calm has enabled households to resume cultivation. He said these positive signs come from a very low base but represent a glimmer of what is possible with peace, adding that it was vital that this trend continued.
Shearer stressed that the desire for peace in the country is palpable and there is a fierce aversion to any renewal of fighting. However, he observed that the pace of dialogue and peacebuilding at the grassroots level was moving much faster than amongst the elites negotiating nationally.
SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan, United Nations:
“Mr. President, we should be frank. The fighting has stopped because the leaders ordered their soldiers to stop. If it resumes - against the will of the people - it will be because those same leaders want it, and ordered it, to happen.”
The Special Representative told the Council that, while disappointing, the postponement of the formation of a transitional government will give time to resolve outstanding issues that might otherwise derail the peace deal. The African Union, Intergovernmental Authority on Development, IGAD, and the UN have been working collectively to support the process and are strongly unified in their position that the six-month extension must be the last one.
SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan, United Nations:
“We should see the peace agreement as a living document, not set in stone. There are no pre-transitional tasks that cannot be achieved within a unified transitional administration. In fact, there are advantages to decisions made collectively within a transitional government, because they will be made collectively, transparently, and will be better able to be held to account by citizens.”
Shearer noted that in two weeks, South Sudan will celebrate its 8th anniversary of gaining independence adding that with “that sovereignty comes responsibility, an obligation that is acknowledged only rarely, including for leaders to use the country s resources in the best interests of their citizens, and not their own.” He said, “The message from the people of South Sudan that we have heard in that regard is very clear. Live up to your responsibility and give us peace.”
UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Andrew Gilmour called on South Sudanese parties to abide by and implement their commitments to end hostilities and stop conflict-related sexual violence. He underscored that the real guaranty of lasting peace in South Sudan lies with efforts to end impunity. He said reports have repeatedly concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe that gross violations of international human rights law, serious violations of international humanitarian law and international crimes have been committed by the parties to the conflict.
He said, “Despite all this evidence though, no significant action has been taken against the perpetrators. And to break the longstanding cycle of impunity as well as to prevent future violations, we believe that the transitional justice mechanisms outlined in the peace agreement are implemented. the Government of South Sudan has not yet signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the African Union for the establishment of the hybrid court.”
Lydia Minagano, Project Manager at the South Sudanese Peace Implementation Monitoring Initiative (PIMI) said the conflict in her country was deeply rooted in gender inequality which has resulted in the widespread violation of the rights of women and girls, including sexual and gender-based violence, forced displacement, and the denial of basic access to livelihoods.
Minagano said, “Women make the majority of my country’s population and South Sudan cannot afford to ignore us. Giving us the resources we need to participate in the future of our country will directly contribute to South Sudan’s peace, stability, and development.”
South Sudanese ambassador Akuei Bona Malwal reiterated that confidence-building measures between the peace agreement signatories are improving steadily. He assured the Council that, while doctor Riek Machar was not in Juba, “there are close contacts going on between him and President Salva Kiir.” Malwal added, “We were all, of course, disappointed that – we were hoping that will fly together from Rome to Juba. Nevertheless, we think he will be in Juba soon, before November.”