UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Pillay to visit South Sudan, 8-12 May

GENEVA, Switzerland, May 7, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay is to make her first visit to South Sudan from 8-12 May.

During her mission to the world's newest State, the UN Human Rights chief is due to meet President Salva Kiir Mayardit, a number of Government ministers, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the South Sudan Human Rights Commission, civil society organizations, the Chairperson of the Jonglei Peace and Reconciliation Committee and other government and non-governmental actors, as well as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ms. Hilde Johnson, and other officials of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), including its Human Rights Division.

Topics to be discussed will include concerns about the protection of civilians amid the hostilities that have periodically flared up along the border with Sudan since South Sudan became an independent State in July 2011, as well as other disputes between the two countries that have already had, or risk having, an impact on the security and well-being of civilian populations on both sides of the border.

The High Commissioner will also be discussing a range of other human rights issues including the inter-communal violence within South Sudan itself, especially in Jonglei State where she plans to visit the town of Bor, as well as economic and social issues arising from decades of conflict and underdevelopment.

On Friday, 11 May, the High Commissioner will hold a Press Conference at the UNMISS Tongping base, Juba, from 14:30-15:30