South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"

By Jenifer James
The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), has urged the government to prioritize the inclusion of persons living with disabilities (PLWDs) within key transitional justice mechanisms.
These institutions, mandated by laws signed by President Salva Kiir last year, include the Commission for Truth, Healing and Reconciliation (CTHR) and the Compensation and Reparation Authority (CRA).
The Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), Edmund Yakani in a statement on Monday emphasized that transitional justice must reflect the diversity of South Sudan’s population, including those most affected by the country’s conflict.
“Persons with disabilities have faced unique and profound challenges during the violence since 2013. Their voices must be central to healing and reconciliation processes,” said Yakani.
He called on the government to ensure that one of the seven commissioners in the truth and reconciliation commission is a person with disability, in line with South Sudan’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
“Inclusion is not just a moral obligation but a legal one,” he said.