UNMISS, Partners Boost Human Rights Awareness in  Public Sector

By Simon Deng

The Human Rights Independent Commission of Central Equatoria State, in collaboration with civil society organizations and with support from the Human Rights Division of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), has provided training on human rights violations to public service institutions.

Jacob Chol, a human rights lawyer and Executive Director of the Community Initiative Support Program, emphasized their goal of promoting human rights awareness throughout Central Equatoria State.

“Today, we have gathered teachers, health workers, and members of the police and other security agencies. The more we train teachers and civil society actors, the more effectively they will be able to promote human rights awareness in Central Equatoria State,” Chol stated during an interview at the Palm Africa Hotel on Tuesday.

“If those who are teaching in schools do not understand human rights, they cannot ensure that students are disciplined appropriately. If you beat a child, you are violating that child’s rights,” he explained.

Chol noted that civil society has urged the Chief Justice and his deputy, along with the South Sudan Bar Association, to enhance efforts to clear the backlog of cases in various courts across the country.

“We urged the Chief Justice and his deputy to collaborate with civil society to alleviate the suffering of people in prison. We have traveled across all ten states, and detention facilities are overcrowded, lacking medicine, food, and other necessities,” he said.

Isaac Wuri Elunai, the Chairperson of the Human Rights Independent Commission in Central Equatoria State, said  that the training will improve the prevention of human rights violations across the state.

“As you know, we have just emerged from war. Many people still do not understand what human rights are, which is why Central Equatoria State is working to educate the public,” Elunai explained.

“In Central Equatoria State, there are always problems and violations. We are trying to educate the police and military forces on human rights issues to demonstrate their importance,” he added.

Valentino Kenyi Pitia, an advisor to Jadalla Agustino Kamilo Wani, the Governor of Central Equatoria State on human rights, mentioned that they have engaged public sector workers to raise awareness about human rights issues.

“The Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, and members of the Unified Forces are also participating in this training. The training aims to enhance understanding of human rights and address violations,” Pitia said.

“The key violations include rape, forced marriage, and unnecessary physical abuse of both men and women. When such crimes are identified, those responsible must be brought to justice,” he stated.

The training for public service institutions, held at the Palm Africa Hotel, is organized by the Human Rights Independent Commission of Central Equatoria State in collaboration with civil society, with support from UNMISS’s Human Rights Division Central Equatoria State Field Office.