 and funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), aims to disseminate the Permanent Constitutional Making Process Act, 2022.){kind=link}
By Taban Tom Henry
More than 100 stakeholders from both government and private sectors are participating in a two-day workshop on the permanent constitutional making process in Torit, Eastern Equatoria State. The workshop, organized by the Support Peace Initiative Development Organization (SPIDO) and funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), aims to disseminate the Permanent Constitutional Making Process Act, 2022.
Wodcan Saviour Lazarus, the Executive Director of SPIDO, emphasized that the training is crucial as many citizens are still unaware of the constitutional reforms initiated after the Act was signed by the president on December 21, 2022.
“Today’s training focuses on disseminating the Permanent Constitutional Making Process Act, 2022. We’re ensuring that key stakeholders from both government and private sectors are informed about the document, which was signed by the president last December. Many people are unaware of its contents, and we want to enable them to play their roles in this democratic process,” he said.
Baba Salah, UNDP’s representative in Eastern Equatoria, stated that UNDP’s role is to support the constitutional reform process by assisting with design execution and strengthening capacities across the country.
“UNDP has a mandate to assist with the constitutional reform process, including the design, execution, and capacity building. We ensure that logistical needs, such as printing and disseminating the constitution, are met so that every citizen, even students, is aware of its importance,” Salah explained.
Deputy Governor of Eastern Equatoria, Mary Alphonse Lodira, emphasized that the constitution should serve all citizens, not just those in power.
“We must create a constitution that protects everyone, whether in government or not. Some may think they are crafting a constitution to benefit them while in office, but soon, they may find themselves outside government, and the constitution will still hold them accountable. We need to approach this with care and humility,” she urged.
These remarks were made during the opening of the two-day workshop on Wednesday in Torit.