The Police Spokesperson in Western Bahr el Ghazal State on Wednesday denied the allegation from women who accused police that they were sexually assaulted by police after they were arrested while returning home from their respective workplaces.

Captain Ring John Chol discloses that the police were doing their work based on national-level orders to arrest the gang groups in the state.

He points out that the police did not sexually abuse any girls, they only arrested the gang group and took them to court based on order, citing that for police to ask for sexual favor, is a violation of the police act and a criminal offense.

John Chol said that the girls who were imprisoned were based on the outcome of the court because if there was no crime against them they would not be in jail.

The Police Spokesperson however promises that they are going to investigate the police personnel that were on duty that night, the girls, and any person that will be found guilty or involved in the case will face the law.

On Tuesday more than 8 female inmates at the women’s prison in Western Bahr el Ghazal state Wau, expressed their disappointment citing that they were arrested by police.

While returning home from their respective workplaces and after that, the policemen ask them for sexual favors or else they will be arrested.

They also added that some of them who agreed to have an affair with the policemen were set free and the rest of them who refused were taken to court. The official made these remarks to Voice of Hope Radio at his office in Wau.

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At least 8 female inmates in Wau Central Prison, Western Bahr el Ghazal state have expressed anger against mistreatment, citing that they did receive clear procedures of law for the alleged offenses. Therefore they called on governments and courts to revisit their cases.

The women, who are working in different places, like tea places, and restaurants in Hai Daraja speak to Voice of Hope radio.

They say a police car drove and arrested them on their way from work including other women and then they were taken to the police station and on the next day brought before the court.

They added that the security personnel asked them for sexual intercourse or else they would be arrested.

They explain that some of them who accepted to have sex with the security forces men were set free and the rest of them who refused to have sex, were taken to court.

The women elaborate that at the court they were not given a chance to express themselves, however, they were punished by paying an amount of two hundred thousand South Sudanese Pounds and imprisonment for six months.

They said their judgment was unfair and asked the government to revisit their case. The inmates urge the security personnel and courts to stop mistreating citizens in such a way because they are the people who are supposed to protect the law and practice justice.

The deputy director for Women’s Prison, Lucia Angelo Kamin confirms that on Saturday they received a total of nine women at the women’s prison.

She adds that they are working on implementing the order from the court and if these women want justice, but their administration has no jurisdiction cases review.

It is reported that the women were arrested on Friday last week. We couldn’t reach the Ploice immediately comments.

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The Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), an advocacy body, is urging the government to ensure freedom of speech as the country prepares for polls in December 2024.

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This follows a two-day Annual General Meeting that brought together members of AMDISS who are station managers, and editors-in-chief of independent media houses.

The members comprised those in the national capital Juba and states to discuss issues relating to policies, media development, and designing advocacy strategies that suit the current changing general environment even as the media space keeps shrinking.

In a free, fair, and credible election, Josephine Achiro Fartelo was elected chairperson, Chris Marol Maker as deputy chairperson, Chuol Jany Bol as secretary, deputized by Jima Francis Wani Abrama, Lily Nelson as treasurer, deputized by Charles Rehan Surur, and Denis Morris as a member of the executive board.

Addressing the AGM shortly after the elections, Koang Pal Chang—the outgoing chairperson, congratulated Josephine Achiro on her election as chairperson, urging her to exert more energy to attain the vision and mission of AMDISS.

On her part, Josephine Achiro, the new chairperson—elect, affirmed her keenness to collaborate with all members and non-members of AMDISS for the advancement of independent media in South Sudan.

She urged the media houses to focus more efforts on educating and amplifying the voices of the people whose voices could not be heard.

“Work for the public interest. Amplify their voices so that the people sitting in the realms of decision-making hear the plight of their people and act promptly to ensure service reaches where it is needed.

The media should focus on strengthening accountability, and democracy, to ensure that the concerned authorities adhere to principles of human rights, and transparency and hold the authorities to account through keeping checks and balances.

“We aspire to have a media that stands firm to the principles of objectivity, independence, and neutrality, and works towards creating awareness on GBV issues and setting a platform for the people at the grassroots to have a say and participate in decision-making at this critical time.”

“The media should look beyond entertainment and playing music when the plight of ordinary people is increasingly unattended to,” she advised.

She thanked the partners for maintaining long-standing support for independent media in South Sudan.

AMDISS has consistently maintained adherence to its constitution by conducting the Annual General Meeting accordingly to evaluate the work plan and strategic plan of action, looking at the successes, and challenges.

It also explored the opportunities that could be executed to advance the quest for vibrant, independent, and sustainable media in the country.

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At least thirty female prison officers were trained by UNMISS on gender responsiveness in Torit, Eastern Equatoria State.

The UNMISS Correction Advisor Hillary Sengabo says that the objective of the training is to equip female prison officers with knowledge to facilitate prisoners to be rehabilitated and transform criminals to be normal citizens.

“the training today is about gender responsiveness in prison system and all that we are supporting is the capacity building for the prison service personnel to have that requirement of knowledge to facilitate prisoners to be rehabilitated to reform and transform the criminals to be a normal citizen.”

So today we are trying to make them understand gender equality among the prison officers and also among female prisoners so we expect that these 30 participants being dominated by female prison officers that are going to work as exemplary and also try to train their colleagues who have not come here so that they can also have this gender sensitivity in their daily routine work,” he said.

The UNMISS Correction Advisor mentioned that UNMISS have been training prison officers especially on prison record management and Mandela Rules in Eastern Equatoria State.

He however applauds the prison authorities for recruiting both female and male prison officers citing that female prison officers have the duty to escort female inmates.  

“This is the first training of its kind, we have been training in other discipline like in prison record management, Mandela rules but this is the training that has tackled about gender maybe they have been receiving other trainings from the government but on the side of UNMISS this is the first time we have trained them but we hope to continue training them. Since that the prison authority have manage to recruit female and male simply because they have different duties depending on what to do because we expect that female inmates are being escorted by female prison officers and also kept in detention wing specifically being watched by female prison officers,” he added.

The Director General of Prison Service in Eastern Equatoria State Major General Ceaser Tombe Joseph stated that the training will help prison officers updated because many prison officers were working without human rights regulations.

“It is important because it is being updated, why I say it is being updated because people were working without regulations or without being supervised by human rights but currently many of the work are being done according to the regulations and the law because there are laws for children and gender so we are trying to give capacity our people with knowledge on how to deal with the gender in the prison according to the law and human right system so it is very important for our people to acquire knowledge of gender based violences,” Ceaser said.

The speakers made these remarks to Radio Emmanuel in an Exclusive interview.   

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South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) has assured the peace monitoring mechanism to punish some of its soldiers currently detained for their roles in violating human rights during peace disarmament in the Gondokoro area near Juba.

This came during the plenary meeting of the Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAVM).

General Rabi Mujung representative of SSPDF says one of the colonels whose identity hasn’t been revealed to the media is under detention about the incident that happened in Gondokoro of Juba County in January 2024.

The incident in which hundreds of youth were bundled and tortured by alleged SSPDF soldiers who carried out the disarmament exercise turned into a violent and extortion occupation.

Gen. Rabi said perpetrators who will be found guilty of violating human rights, will not be spared by the SSPDF court martial.

Rabi described the incident at Gondokoro as an individual act and an isolated case and should be treated with special consideration. The SSPDF is calling on the public and opposition groups to be patient as the government’s Investigation Committee finalizes its reports.

SPLA-IO representative at CTSAMVM Dr. Chuol Ruea described the incident as a complete violation of the Peace Agreement and challenged the Peace Monitoring body to document the incident.

He calls on all parties to the Peace Agreement to respect the ceasefire to allow South Sudanese to enjoy peace dividends.

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South Sudan has joined the rest of the world to celebrate the International Women’s Day with female inmates at Juba National Prison call on government and non-governmental organisations to recognise them by pardoning at least 2 to 3 female inmates on their Day.

The call was made during the celebration of International Women’s Day at Juba organized by Eve Organisation together with its partner; Christian Aid for female Inmates at National Prison.

Speaking during the celebration, one of the inmates Ms. Evaline Anyango Juma challenges the organisations and government to come with cheques to release two or three female inmates in such big days of women.

“As organisation or even government, I would just want to challenge them next time whenever they are coming at least, they should come even with cheque to release even two or three women also to celebrate the release during the international Women’s Day.”

Evaline adds some inmates are kept in prison for small case like money for long without trial.

“There are some women they bring them here on the issues of loans, at the end of the day they bring them and dump them here, no court no nothing.”

Anyango expresses her gratitude for Eve Organisation, for honoring the female inmates and join them in celebration of International Women’s Day.

She encourages women to celebrate the day and raise their voice to fight violence and sexual abuse against women.

The representative of Eve Organisation, Ever Kiongo says the vision of their organisation is to supports all women from national to the grassroots level including inmates.

“I am here to introduction of Eve organization, and what we do. Eve organisation, our vision is to empower women, and we do not segregate women. We go from the grassroots, we go even to the parliament, and today, we said we are not going to leave out our fellow ladies in prisons.”

Ever Kiongo recognised female inmates, saying that Eve organization will always support them even after leaving prisons.

“We know women are strong as we have heard from the director of women wing, you are really strong and as Eve, we said we will not celebrate anywhere, we will bring this celebration here. We keep on remembering you, and we shall never forget the female inmates.”

You are serving your court sentence I know some of you are about to come out, we believe that we shall meet there and we continue to roll the pillars of developing our nation, “Ever Kiongo adds.”

The acting director General for National Prison Lieutenant General John Jok urges men to respect women as they also respect men in everything they do

Jok calls on men to celebrate the international day with their wives in all their respective house and also give them the day to rest.

“This day is not for women alone so we should celebrate together with women because without women men will not be there. So celebrate together with your wives and also give them some rest on this day.”

The acting director thanks Eve organisation for joining their fellow women in the prison to celebrate the International Women’s Day together.

Eve organisation ended the celebration with distributions of some packages to support the inmates and gave them shared lunch.

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The government in a press conference on Thursday, the Minister of Justice Ruben Madol Arol said the report is deplorable and lacks evidence.

Minister Madol said the UN Commission for Human Rights did not conduct verification before releasing the statement.

Some of the abuses, that the South Sudan government is accused of committing as seen by Radio Bakhita in a document released by the Ministry of Justice, include; political repression, economic predation, discrimination of women, inequality, and sexual violence

Justice Madol calls on the Human Rights Commission to share evidence and names of individuals and entities accused of violations in the country.

Madol said, that knowing the accused entities will help the government evaluate the statuses of each reported case to address them through accountability.

The Minister further urged UN commissions to build a cordial relationship with the government of South Sudan through dialogue to foster a strong justice system in the country.

The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs recently attended the 55th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva where they presented the government’s position on the released reports.

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He said the body will be formed to monitor the effective implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

“We shall be launching the domestication of the UNCRPD by advocating for enacting of a bill in the parliament that will lead to the formation of a national disability council, a body that will monitor the effective implementation of the UNCRPD.”

The Chairperson states that the South Sudan Union of Persons with Disabilities with other organizations of persons with disabilities and its partners congratulate the leadership of the country for the remarkable decision to be a state party to the UNCRPD.

Mr. Wudu adds that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) is instrumental for the population of persons with disabilities in South Sudan.

“We have experienced discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and other forms of human rights violations in the past, now South Sudan becoming a state party to UNCRPD.”

“The confirmation of the United Nations Secretary-General for the enforcement of UNCPRD and its optional protocol will kick off in South Sudan from the 6th March 2024.”

Wudu describes the process of South Sudan becoming a state party as a salvation for persons with disabilities in South Sudan.

“We are now expecting the government to take a proactive role in the domestication of the UNCRPD and its optional protocol in South Sudan by enacting a law to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities,” he said.

He further urges the public, private, and non-governmental institutions to take steps to translate the provisions of the UNCRPD and its optional protocol in their day-to-day work.

The African Union (AU) Heads of State Assembly adopted the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa on January 29, 2018.

The most recent census reported that 5% of the population in South Sudan, or approximately 1.2 million people, were living with a disability.

The post South Sudan sets to enact laws for Persons with disability appeared first on Catholic Radio Network for South Sudan and Nuba Mountains | CRN.

This concern was raised during the International Women’s Day briefing by the leaders of Central Equatoria Women Union in Juba.

The Secretary-General for the Women’s Union Sarah Michael regrets that the President of South Sudan does not attend their occasions

Sarah Michael said it has been a challenge for them to express their issues to the leaders of South Sudan during their occasions.

“Since we got peace, our president, or our leaders are not putting their attention on our day as women, anyone is saying I am busy.”

“I am passing this information to our president Salva Kiir Mayardit, our president of the Republic of South Sudan, we are women, we are the ones who gave birth to you, and it has never happened one day you join us as women to celebrate together and see the pain we have in our hearts,” she said.

The Women’s Union Secretary appreciates President Kiir for considering International Women’s Day, adding that they are not happy because men are not respecting their day.

“President you should look after women in the Republic of South Sudan, we are women of Central Equatoria or South Sudan at large, we are happy because you gave us our day. But we are annoyed because once it comes to our day, only women are the ones that celebrate and all men will be in the office.”

Sarah appeals to all women to turn up and raise their voices on issues affecting them in South Sudan.

The Chairperson of Central Equatoria Women Union Cicilia Laku Wani encourages women to leave work and celebrate their day, which is scheduled for 8 of March 2024.

This year’s International Women’s Day will be celebrated under the Theme: “Accelerating gender equality through inclusion and access to productive resources for women and girls.”

The President’s office has yet to respond to the women concerned.

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The meeting was part of media engagement with authorities to create a suitable environment for the journalists to start sensitizing and educating the masses on electoral procedures.

Deputy Secretary of AMDISS Executive Board, Chuol Jany who also works for Catholic Radio Network [CRN] pled to the government to remove restrictions imposed by the security apparatus on the media and give a chance for media pluralism.

He says government and media should cooperate to bridge the information gaps in the country.

“In Juba, it is hard for journalists to interview people on the streets,” Chuol asserted. “If you are seen with a camera on the street, you are arrested. This is not good.”

“Just a few weeks ago, a journalist working for CGTN had his documents confiscated simply because he was capturing video footage on the street. This doesn’t seem right,” he lamented.

On her part, AMDISS Director Ayaa Irene appealed to the government to instruct the security agents deployed at the printing facilities to stop media censorship, particularly, the unilateral removal of news articles from the newspapers, saying seeing newspapers with blank spaces tarnishes the image of the country more.

“Hon. Minister [Makuei], seeing newspapers circulating with blank spaces is not good for the country.?

“It demonstrates the extent of media censorship in the country. The government should direct the security agents to desist from such practices,” she stressed.

According to Ayaa, the relationship between the security sector and the media is deteriorating causing mistrust and hence, results in intimidation, arrest, and detention of journalists.

She stated that the two sectors should understand their roles and work together for the public interest.

Minister Michael Makuei said the government will organize a workshop that will bring together journalists and the security sector to dialogue and find a way to mend their relationship.

The minister acknowledged the positive role of the media but cautioned journalists against publishing negative stories that incite violence and cause divisions in the community.

“Media should be professional. The media should not be used to incite violence. The work of the government is to see that the media is used responsibly and professionally. Still, if you target an individual’s personality, then you would be taken to court,” Makuei warned.

The meeting was part of AMDISS’ media campaign initiative to advocate for a conducive environment to promote a free press without censorship.

The Initiative is to remove fear of intimidation, arrest, and confiscation of media gadgets at a time the country prepares for its first-ever general elections in December this year.

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Members from the Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS) met on Tuesday with the Specialized Committee for information at the National Transitional Legislative Assembly.

They discuss a range of issues pertaining to the safety of journalists and their welfare as the country is gearing toward election in December calling for robust relationships with other arms of the government.

Media stakeholders enlightened concerns facing journalists, which include safety, capacity building, and training to equip media practitioners with knowledge to cover the election fairly.

The AMDISS Secretary General, Josephine Achiro, urged government institutions to engage the media in the upcoming elections activities.

Achiro said the media plays a very vital role in the expected election to ensure there is responsible reporting on election processes until the result is announced.

“We‘re preparing our ground for the upcoming election so that the journalists report accurately because if we mess up with reporting it may destroy the image of this country,” Achiro said.

Meanwhile, the National Transitional Legislative Assembly Chairperson for Information Specialized Committee, John Agany said development can’t be realized without the media.

He says members of parliament should be exemplary in respecting media rights such that other institutions can emulate them.

“Development can’t go without the journalist, in fact even when you want to build your house, you want the all world to know through media,” he said

According to the reporter’s San Frontier, freedom of the press is extremely precarious in South Sudan, where journalists work under constant threat and intimidation, and where censorship is ever-present.

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Western Bahr el Ghazal State, students from various learning institutions in Wau celebrated the International Day against the use of child soldiers.

The occasion was organized by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan Wau (UNMISS) together with the State Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Gender and Social Welfare in the state.

The Child Protection Officer Team Leader Erasmus Migyikra points out that child protection and other international organizations were established to put an end to the use of child soldiers all over the world.

He says that children have been recruited since the First and Second World Wars and during that time joining the army seemed to be a great duty and that many children were enrolled to join the military. 

UNICEF head office Pa Osuman says that violation is still practiced in the country in the form of rape child adoptions and child recruitments and this denies children to have right to access most of their services. 

He urges the people to make this year a better year for children to get access to their needs because they are future leaders and by stop recruiting them will allow them to develop the country in the future. 

The SPLA-IO representative Peter Ngoli claims that some children people see in military encampments are not soldiers but they are their children they took them since the time of war and were raised in the camp but they are not soldiers.

He adds that they also need their children to study that’s why they are following the rule of the country that children should not be armed recruited.

SSPDF Division 5 Commander Dau Atour Joung claims  that they have cleared off the recruitment of child soldiers since 1994 but if there is a child in the military camp that child must be staying  with his/her family members.

He adds that they don’t agree with child soldiers nor allow children to work in their barrier. 

Since 2002, nations and regional coalitions from around the world have been holding events on February 12, Red Hand Day, to draw attention to the issue and encourage steps to end the use of children for military purposes.

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The National Constitution Amendment Committee (NCAC) has finalized revision of the National Pension Fund bill and presented it to the Ministry of Justice and constitutional Affairs.

The Chairperson for NCAC, Gichira Kibara said the committee fully reviewed the bill to strengthen the process of administering pensions in South Sudan.

Gichira said the pension bill is very important to guarantee public servant retirement security in old age after a person has worked for many years in the public service

The NCAC Chair acknowledges previous challenges related to administration of public pensions funds but said the revised bill is a promising law.

He further said the amended pension bill is to the standard of the region in as far as international best practices are concern.

 The amended bill according to NCAC chair, will ensure reporting mechanism and board of trustees in charge of pension are strengthen so that funds are protected. 

The undersecretary in the Ministry of Justice, Dr. Gabriel Isaac Awow, applauds NCAC and said that the amended bill has met all the criteria’s and will address the rights of South Sudanese.

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The Canadian base Journalist for Human Rights Organization (JHR) in collaboration with Defy Hate Now South Sudan, has on Wednesday launched a new project dubbed “Tackling Mis/disinformation and Hate Speech in South Sudan”.

The Project Manager of JHR, Mary Ajith Goch who is also a Director of [CRN] said the new initiative will help in addressing misinformation and hate speech by training journalists in fact-checking.

Ajith said, her organization will work closely with local media houses and civil societies in providing them with fact-checking tools and skills needed to counter hate speeches and misinformation.

The JHR manager further added that the project team will work closely with media authority to provide a conducive environment to media practitioners during the period of the election and beyond.

The Union of Journalists for South Sudan Chairperson, Oyet Patrick, urged journalists to prepare for the election as misinformation and fake news are concerns.

Mr. Oyet discourages media practitioners from concentrating on political talks about the elections not happening but should rather focus on their role in the upcoming democratic exercise.

The UJOSS boss strongly advised journalists avoid reporting false information in the yet-to-be-election

The Undersecretary in the Ministry of Information Dr. Yach Awan Yach, who doubled as guest of Honor at the event, applauded JHR for the initiative of combating hate speech and fake news in South Sudan.

Dr Yach cited some of the conflicts among South Sudanese communities that were triggered by misinformation and fake News. 

Meanwhile, the Canadian Ambassador to South Sudan, Aly-Khan Rajani has pledged his country’s support to any initiative that will promote peace in South Sudan. 

Since February 2016, JHR has been implementing the project “Strengthening Media in South Sudan” to enhance public accountability in the country on human rights issues but they later closed their office in the country.

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