South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
The Transitional National Legislative Assembly on Monday adopted the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), signifying the country’s commitment to peace.
The document, created by the International Law Peace Committee under the organisation Heavenly Culture, World Peace, and Restoration of Light (HWPL), is viewed as a significant step toward global peace.
Proclaimed on 14 March 2016, it aims to establish a legal and institutional framework for peace by forbidding war, encouraging the peaceful resolution of disputes, and safeguarding human rights.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit signed the declaration of peace into law on 15 May 2024.
The DPCW has garnered support from over 922,507 individuals across 178 nations and is recognised as an innovative legal structure that could help prevent future conflicts and settle current disputes.
HWPL, which operates in 170 countries, is led by Chairman Lee Man-hee, known for his mediation efforts in the Mindanao conflict in the Philippines in 2014.
While tabling the motion on Monday, Bona Deng Lawrence, Chairperson of the Standing Specialized Committee on Peace and Reconciliation, stated that the document would prohibit the use of force, promote the peaceful resolution of disputes, and ensure the protection of human rights.
“Recalling the preamble of the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan (2011) affirms the commitment to justice, liberty, equality, human rights, the rule of law, dialogue, reconciliation, and the building of a peaceful society,” Deng said.
Deng clarified that the report is not an international treaty but rather a document that countries can choose to adopt voluntarily.
“It does not fall under the purview of international treaty law, specifically the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969). Therefore, it does not engage the formal treaty-making responsibilities and powers of the R-TGoNU executive branch.”
Nyayang Johnson Lokirk, a lawmaker from the SPLM representing Jonglei State, stated that the report is relevant to the current circumstances in the country.
“This declaration is very important, and if you read those articles right now, they are very relevant to our situation, if you read those articles of the declaration itself,” Johnson said.
Johnson asserted that lawmakers play a crucial role in peacebuilding, highlighting that any peace-related initiatives should align with the country’s best interests.
In contrast, Bol Joseph Agau, representing Lakes State at TNLA, opposed the adoption of the report, likening it to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.
He claimed that his research indicated it is a civil society document from South Korea and noted the similarities between its content and the previously adopted African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.
“It looks repetitive that this House in 2013 ceded and adopted the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, and the contents of the Charter, the African Charter, are similar to this document.”
Parmena Awerial Aluong, Second Deputy Speaker of Administration and Finance of the R-TNLA, confirmed that the House approved the resolutions with all necessary considerations.
“It is the declaration of peace, and we have seen there is no harm in this motion. Thank you very much; the motion is passed,” said Awerial.
