UNMISS of United Nations Mission in South Sudan Justice Affairs section in Wau brought together civil society members for a civic education lecture on customary law and the interface between formal and traditional justice systems.
The lecture shared findings of an early workshop conducted with judges and traditional chiefs over their different jurisdictions to harmonize the justice system in South Sudan.Civil society members learned about the roles and hierarchy of statutory and traditional courts in relations to accessibility, criminal cases and the transfer of cases.
UNMISS Judicial affairs officer Leda Lindwan explained to Voice of Hope that the lecture aimed to differentiate the rights of the two court systems in dealing with criminal justice and the mandates and mechanisms of traditional courts.
Ms Lindwan said she hoped that the Permanent Constitution will clarify limits and jurisdiction of traditional and statutory courts and that prolonged and arbitrary detentions should be prevented by both courts.
She added that chiefs are important in rural areas but they have limits of jurisdiction because they do not have legal formation.
Justice John Yel Aleu explained that the workshop was insightful about the right procedures taken in the judicial system according to the Local Governance Act and the Judicial Authority Act of South Sudan.