Human rights officials are receiving training on risk assessment and security management in an effort to ensure their safety while on duty.
Officials are often exposed to political violence as they defend the rights of others. They put at risk their own physical and mental integrity as they strive to bring an end to impunity for human right violations.Edmund Yakani, director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation, a human rights advocacy group told SCR News that the training comes as a result of repeated attacks on the Human Rights Commission.
Last month, the Human Rights chairperson Korbandy Lawrence was attacked at his own home.
Korbandy Lawrence confirmed that indeed there was an attack and threats on his life.
Agnes Kidan, has been serving as a human rights defender in South Sudan for the last three years. She said she does not rule out the possibilities of intimidation although she has never been threatened.
Trainer Wanjara Yonnah advised participants to ensure they stay alive while monitoring and defending human rights.
Reports from international human rights advocacy groups indicate that South Sudan still lags behind in its commitment to human rights.
In its June report, Amnesty International urged the government to ensure accountability for abuses by security forces, uphold the rights to freedom of expression and association, review legality of detentions, suspend death penalty, promote and protect rights of women and girls and ratify international human rights treaties.