A/HRC/RES/37/31 Emphasizing the importance of good governance and the rule of law as key elements of conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and peacebuilding, expressing particular concern at the undue reduction of democratic space in South Sudan, including through undue restrictions on freedom of expression and the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, attacks on journalists and media workers, and the limitations on the operations of civil society, human rights defenders and the media, and stressing the responsibility of the Government of South Sudan to address these issues in the interest of fostering an open and inclusive political environment, Expressing concern that the situation in South Sudan continues to be characterized by impunity, while noting the steps being taken towards accountability, Recognizing that transitional justice mechanisms are important elements in a national reconciliation process, including by addressing accountability, reparations, truthseeking and guarantees of non-recurrence, and underlining the role that domestic, regional and international accountability mechanisms can play in assisting South Sudan to ensure accountability, 1. Condemns in the strongest possible terms the ongoing violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law in South Sudan, including those involving the targeted killing of civilians, ethnically targeted violence, and widespread sexual and gender-based violence, including rape and gang rape, which can be used as a weapon of war, the recurring recruitment and use of children, arbitrary arrests and detention, torture, the arbitrary denial of humanitarian access and attacks on schools, places of worship, hospitals and United Nations and associated peacekeeping personnel by all parties, and the impunity for such violence by all armed groups, condemns the harassment and violence directed at civil society, human rights defenders, humanitarian personnel and journalists, and emphasizes that those responsible for violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law must be held accountable; 2. Demands that all actors put a halt to all violations and abuses of human rights and all violations of international humanitarian law, and strongly calls upon the Government of South Sudan to ensure the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms; 3. Notes with appreciation the report of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan,1 and the recommendations contained therein; 4. Recognizes the important role and efforts of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development in bringing forward the High-level Revitalization Forum to work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict; 5. Also recognizes the important role of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission to support the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan and its ceasefire provisions, and urges all parties and international partners to engage constructively with the Commission and other bodies created by the Agreement; 6. Further recognizes the important role played by the African Union High Representatives for South Sudan in support of an inclusive process for national dialogue and the implementation of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, and urges all parties and international partners to engage constructively with the African Union Commission, the African Union High Representative for South Sudan and other bodies created by the Agreement; 7. Stresses that those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights, including any that amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity, should be held accountable; 8. Calls upon the Government of South Sudan to investigate all violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law and to hold those responsible to account, while affording fair trial protections to the accused and supporting victims and protecting potential witnesses before, during and after legal proceedings; 9. Urges the Government of South Sudan to take steps immediately to protect the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association in accordance with its international human rights obligations, and to, among other things, ensure that members of civil society organizations and the media can operate freely and without intimidation; 3