[JURIST] The UN Human Rights Council [official website] decided Wednesday to establish a three-person commission [press release] to investigate allegations of human rights abuses in South Sudan. The commission was established for a year term and will “monitor and report on the situation of human rights in South Sudan and make recommendations for its improvement,” producing a written report that will be presented to the 34th session of the Human Rights Council. The government of South Sudan said that it will cooperate [Reuters report] with the effort.

The conflict in South Sudan has taken more than 50,000 lives and has displaced over one-and-a-half million people. Earlier this month the UN Security Council urged [UN press release] the South Sudan government to protect its civilians from the deteriorating conditions within the country. Human Rights Watch [advocacy website] earlier this month urged [JURIST report] the African Union to establish a hybrid court to prosecute members of the South Sudan government for war crimes committed in the Western Equatoria region. Last month the UN Mission in South Sudan strongly condemned [JURIST report] the violence that took place between Shilluk and Dinka youths at one of its Protection of Civilian sites in South Sudan. The UN rights office reported in January that “shocking crimes” have been committed [JURIST report] in war-torn South Sudan.