The United Nations has begun deploying more human rights investigators to South Sudan “given reports of alleged serious violations and abuses committed by both parties to the conflict,” according to a press statement yesterday.

A ten-person team working under the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein has already begun deploying, with three members in Juba since last week.

They will carry out a human rights assessment and then present it to the UN Human Rights Council at its next session in March 2016.

“The team will examine violations of international human rights law and of international humanitarian law committed by actors on both sides of the political divide,” said Zeid.

The High Commissioner said the report, based on its findings and assessment, would contain recommendations for ways to improve the human rights situation in the country and to ensure accountability for gross violations.

“Given the time constraints, this will be a preliminary assessment, building on the work done by the human rights division of the UN Mission in South Sudan, and it will advise the Human Rights Council on appropriate follow-up action,” the commissioner explained.

Zeid's team arrives after the African Union Commission delayed release of a Commission of Inquiry report produced last year.