Wellington/New York/The Hague

PGA and its Members worldwide strongly support the Statement regarding the Situation in South Sudan by the UN Secretary-General of 23 December 2013 and are equally alarmed by the rapidly deteriorating situation within the country.

Initial reports of significant ethnic killings and rapes signal a need for swift international and regional action to prevent further violence and serious crimes.

PGA is particularly concerned that (1) during a traditional holiday season in many parts of the world and (2) at a time when regional and international resources are already stretched elsewhere in the African continent dealing with similar, grave circumstances, that action will not be taken quickly enough.

South Sudan is one of the newest members of the international community of nations.

In the same way that she was actively welcomed to the international community only two years ago, now South Sudan must be actively and immediately helped in this, her most urgent hour of need.

PGA calls upon the UN Security Council, the African Union and all other concerned parties to act immediately to stop the violence and to hold accountable those who have committed serious crimes.