Public Sector Workers Embrace Human Rights Training in CES

By Simon Deng

The public sector workers on Thursday, embraced human rights training provided by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, in collaboration with the Independent Human Rights Commission and civil society organisations in Central Equatoria State.

Yawa Josephine, a nurse working at Nyakuron Primary Health Care, said the training on human rights will help them enlighten their clients on issues of human rights.

“As a healthcare worker, it is an opportunity to learn about human rights and also to understand how to handle issues of human rights violations. The training aims to provide greater awareness of issues related to human rights violations,” said Josephine on Thursday during the closing of the three-day training on human rights at Palm Africa Hotel.

“The key issues covered in the training include rape and the mistreatment of women, especially unnecessary beating. We are supposed to be treated equally; whoever commits a crime should be brought to justice,” she said.

Jacob Chol, a human rights lawyer and Executive Director for the Community Initiative Support Program, said they are working to disseminate human rights aspects across Central Equatoria State.

“Today we have concluded the training of teachers and health facility workers. The more we train civil society actors, I am quite sure they will be able to disseminate the human rights aspects in Central Equatoria State,” said Chol.

Martha Francis, a trained media practitioner and resident of Jebel suburb, said the training on human rights in Central Equatoria State will enhance performance in terms of preventing human rights violations in homes, communities, and across the country.

“Actually, we have just acquired knowledge on how to handle issues of human rights violations at different levels, whether at home, school, or in health facilities. We now know what human rights are, and as a result, we will be trying our best to advocate for and educate people about human rights,” said Francis.

Chol stated that civil society is planning to extend similar training on human rights to other states in a bid to increase awareness of human rights issues in the country.

“If funds are available, we will extend the training to other states across the country. With such training, issues related to human rights violations will reduce,” he said.

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