South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The South Sudan Law Society on Friday held symposium to create awareness on the Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians which calls on warring parties to adhere to humanitarian law during any conflict.
Gasper Amule, a member of the South Sudan Law Society said they organized the workshop to develop the strategies to increase awareness on the Geneva Conventions and the Geneva Conventions Act 2012 in the country.
“The aim of this stakeholders briefing is of course, to create awareness on the Geneva Conventions related to regulations of war that South Sudan has ratified, as well as the law adopted in 2012, which is to really implement the Geneva Conventions,” Amule told journalists in Juba.
He emphasized the need to distinguish civilians and humanitarian workers from combatants, adding that weapons use in armed conflict cannot indiscriminately target both soldiers and civilians in war zones.
“As we engage in conflict, it is important for us to know that South Sudan has committed to international Conventions that regulate war in South Sudan. And secondly, is that it has adopted a law for ensuring implementation of humanitarian law in South Sudan,” said Amule.
Lt.Col Harriet Fouzia Ginaba, a Counselor working at Juba Military Hospital said civilians in war zones are entitled to protections and services including medical treatment, regardless of their political affiliation.
“Geneva Convention is very important, there is need to create more awareness on Geneva Convention in all 10 states and 3 administrative areas, as military, we protect civilians and their properties and when there is war, the civilians have to be protected and taken care of,” said Ginaba.
Afrah John, the second legal counsel at the Ministry of Justice and Constitution Affairs said the government is committed to adhering fully to international conventions that regulate war including the protection of civilians.
“Civilians and prisoners of war and people who have surrendered are entitled to protection, they need not to be tortured, and they should be allowed to have communication with their family members, and they should be able to access basic services including medical treatment,” said John.
The four provisions under the Geneva Conventions includes protection of wounded soldiers in the context of war, protection of aid organizations like Red Cross, protection of civilians and humane treatment of prisoners of war.
