South Sudanese told to promote basic human rights

South Sudanese told to promote basic human rights

South Sudanese communities are being urged to promote basic human rights across the country.

An ongoing campaign by the Active Citizen South Sudan (ACSS) seeks to promote equity among citizens as part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; an international document adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on the rights and freedoms of all human beings globally. 

There is widespread human rights violation in Africa’s youngest nation, at least according to Amnesty International.

The South Sudanese government is yet to establish the Hybrid Court for South Sudan (HCSS).

Angelina Stephen Ban, the Project Coordinator for the campaign claims that most South Sudanese do not enjoy fundamental rights.

“By basic human rights; we are referring to International Bill of Rights, women rights, as well as children’s rights, entailed in the country’s constitution,” she explained in an interview.

“Various rights for women have been constantly violated without action and this is why we are reaching out. So, we want our communities to have an idea about these rights,” Ban added.

According to Ban, such rights include the right to education for children, the right to own properties for women and the right to fair justice and liberty for all.

She noted that most women have been enduring rights-related violations without improvement.

The activist said it was significant to sensitize the communities so that they now stand tall for their essential rights.

“We took the initiative to talk to the community members. We opted for the door-to-door awareness raising so that they (locals) understand their relevance in the law,” Ban stated.

The drive titled “Advancing civic engagement in South Sudan” was conducted with the support of the Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA).

Over 7,000 households were reached during the exercise across the targeted localities. It then also involved radio talk shows. The targeted areas included Mangateen, Hai Referendum, Eden, Mia Saba and New site areas of Luri Payam of Central Equatoria State respectively. 

Sarah Aliet, one of the beneficiaries said she was not aware of such rights provisions stipulated in the constitution and other rights declarations.

“Now that I have known, I will try to guard my rights and that of the children. I have encountered scenarios where my girls have been restricted to go to school and the male ones go because my husband thinks that the boys are important,” she said

“So, I will never allow this situation to occur again. I will never allow anyone to violate my rights and that of my children,” Aliet concluded. 

Angelina continued that they were considering possibilities of reaching out to the states so that the locals were fully educated on their rights. 

“In the next few events, we are projecting to reach out widely. We just don’t want to focus on Central Equatoria state, we want to reach all the parts of South Sudan so that our people get informed,” she concluded. 

According to the United Nations, human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more.

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