South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Jenifer James
The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Ruben Madol, has expressed optimism about the progress in judicial reform in the country.
“Today is a significant milestone as we advance the implementation of our agreement,” Madol said during the opening of the validation workshop on judicial reform in Juba on Wednesday.
He emphasized the necessity of validating the judicial reform committee report and recommendations from the accountability and reconciliation commission (ARC).
“We are closing an important chapter in our transition, focusing on judicial reform, which has been crucial to our efforts over the past two years,” he said, expressing confidence in the collaboration with the ARC leadership.
Madol noted that the forthcoming recommendations will bring about transformative changes in South Sudan’s judiciary.
“These recommendations will be vital as we embark on a new phase of our judicial system,” he said.
For his part, the Chief Justice Chan Reech underscored the need for continued emphasis on access to justice.
He highlighted the importance of discussions on judicial reform, emphasizing that these issues are essential for the nation’s development.
Reech called for learning from the experience of countries in the region and global practices to strengthen institutions.
He outlined innovations within the judicial system under his tenure, such as the mobile court initiative aimed at improving access to justice in remote areas.
“We have started sending judges to locations without formal court facilities, conducting hearings under trees to ensure justice is accessible to everyone,” Reech said.
He also praised the support from international partners, especially the assistance in transportation that helps judges travel across the country.
“Thanks to the UNDP and the government, we have significantly expanded our outreach,” Reech said.
Reech announced plans to establish specialized courts to address gender-based violence and juvenile matters, aiming to better serve vulnerable communities.
“Our goal is to create a judiciary that meets the specific needs of our society,” he asserted.
For his part, the Chief of Staff of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), Ambassador Berhanu Kebede, who spoke on behalf of his boss Charles Tai Gituai, said that the establishment of the adhoc Judicial Reform Committee (JRC) by the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) marks a significant commitment to addressing the urgent need for judicial reforms in South Sudan.
He noted that an effective, independent, and impartial judiciary is essential for delivering justice, eradicating impunity, and achieving lasting peace, stability, and democratization.
Berhanu said that the report produced by the JRC is both comprehensive and actionable, and contains practical recommendations aimed at enhancing the administration of justice, ensuring judicial independence, strengthening customary law, and establishing a constitutional court in South Sudan.
“As we gather for this historic workshop to validate the JRC’s findings, it’s important to recognize that today marks a pivotal moment. RJMEC has closely monitored the JRC’s progress since its inception, and now we stand at a crucial juncture,”Berhanu said.
