South Sudan 2012 human rights report

The report by the US Department of State presents an overview of the human rights situation in South Sudan. It starts with the current political situation:  South Sudan gained independence from Sudan after a 20-year civil war. While the 2010 Sudan-wide elections did not wholly meet international standards, international observers believed that president Kiir’s election reflected the popular will of a large majority of Southern Sudan. President Kiir is a founding member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) political party. 

The report sums up the most serious human rights problems in the country: security force abuses, including extrajudicial killings, torture, rape, intimidation, and other inhumane treatment of civilians; lack of access to justice, including arbitrary arrest, prolonged pretrial detention, and corruption within the justice sector; and conflictrelated abuses, including continuing abuse and displacement of civilians as a result of fighting between Sudanese and South Sudanese forces, RMGs opposing the government, and rival ethnic communities. Conflict-related abuses occurred primarily along the border between Sudan and South Sudan and in the states of Upper Nile, Jonglei, Unity, and Warrap. The government seldom took steps to punish military or civilian officials who committed abuses, and impunity was a major problem. 

United States Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor 2013

The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor leads the U.S. efforts to promote democracy, protect human rights and international religious freedom, and advance labor rights globally.