Security Council Sanctions Committee Concerning South Sudan Meets with Coordinator of Panel of Experts, Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict

During its informal consultations on 16 September 2016, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2206 (2015) concerning South Sudan was briefed by the Coordinator of the Panel of Experts on South Sudan, in connection with the Panel’s 120-day report, and by Ms. Zainab Hawa Bangura, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict.

For his part, the Coordinator of the Panel provided a brief overview of the findings contained in the 120-day report and addressed comments and questions from Committee members.  By paragraph 12(e) of resolution 2290 (2016), the Panel was mandated to provide the Council with a report within 120 days.  In the report, the Panel analysed the current security threats facing the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGNU) and its needs to maintain law and order in South Sudan.  The Panel also provided further analysis on the role of transfers of arms and related materiel coming into South Sudan since the formation of the TGNU with respect to implementation of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan.  Finally, the Panel examined threats to UNMISS and other United Nations and international humanitarian personnel.  The 120-day report has been issued as S/2016/793.

Ms. Bangura, who last briefed the Committee in May 2015, noted inter alia that in light of the continued systematic patterns of sexual violence in conflict, and in spite of the formal commitments made by the parties, the Committee should consider activating targeted sanctions against perpetrators of sexual violence.

Ms. Bangura cited reports of sexual violence committed by individuals of the Tiger Battalion of the Sudan People's Liberation Army, the National Security Service (NSS), and the pro-Government Mathiang Anyoor militia, and reiterated her office’s willingness to work with the Committee and its Panel of Experts in this regard.

Committee members acknowledged that by the provisions of paragraph 9 of resolution 2290 (2016), individuals and entities can be subject to possible financial and travel sanctions for actions such as the targeting of civilians, including women and children, through the commission of acts of violence, including killing, rape or other sexual and gender-based violence.  They also agreed that issues of sexual violence in conflict and sanctions should be considered in order to support the search for an inclusive and sustainable peace in South Sudan.