South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The South Sudan Civil Society Coalition on Universal Periodic Review has urged the national Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to take action to improve the human rights situation in the country.
Adam Masco Joseph, human rights and advocacy officer for Hold the Child, stated that they have been implementing human rights programmes over the years, emphasizing that the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) calls for enhancements in the human rights landscape.
“This meeting is promising in that the government and civil society organizations have pledged to collaborate in order to implement all the recommendations that South Sudan received in 2022,” Joseph remarked on Monday following discussions with senior officials from the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
“With regard to the UPR, we have received positive responses from all parties involved, and we are pleased that most of the recommendations are being implemented. South Sudan has already acceded to a number of treaties,” he added.
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is an instrument of the Human Rights Council (HRC) designed to monitor, investigate, support, promote, and protect human rights across all member countries.
Jacob Chol, the Executive Director for the Community Initiative Support Programme (CISP), stated that the government and Civil Society Organisations must work together to enhance the human rights situation.
“We need to turn a new page and collaborate. The objective of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is to improve the human rights situation in South Sudan while assessing both positive developments and the challenges facing the state,” Chol explained.
He stated that they would establish a focal point in all ten states and three administrative areas to ensure that the UPR is well-known throughout the country and that the recommendations are implemented.
Majok Dau Kuot, the Director of Human Rights at the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, stated that the government has enacted legislation and established a judiciary to address cases of human rights violations.
“We have laws in place, an established judiciary, and courts to handle cases of human rights violations, including a court within the prison. If you commit a crime, you will not be released,” Kuot noted.
He stated that they are planning to establish courts in all ten states and three administrative areas.
“If there are individuals who have committed a crime, investigations will be conducted and the cases will be presented in court”
Martha Francis, a liaison officer for the Community Initiative Support Programme (CISP), highlighted that the civil society coalition is engaging with the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to enhance the human rights situation.
“We are working to engage with the Ministry of Justice; we cannot operate without them. We need to collaborate as a team to assist our society and our community,” Francis stated.
In its third cycle in South Sudan, the Universal Periodic Review adopted in 2022 by the Human Rights Council recommended the implementation of transitional justice, judicial reforms, and accountability for conflict-related sexual violence and sexual and gender-based violence.
