In a high-level consultative meeting held in Juba, officials from the Ministry of Justice, including the Director of Human Rights, Consul General Majok Dau Kuot, met with civil society representatives to discuss strategies for addressing ongoing human rights violations and enhancing the country’s justice system.
“We want to take our country forward because we are accused by different institutions of committing numerous human rights violations,” said Majok Dau Kuot. “We want to correct this perception by working together—civil society and government—to uphold the rights of our people.”
Majok acknowledged that reports from various organisations have painted a picture of South Sudan that may not fully reflect realities on the ground. “That is why we want to coordinate our voices and produce a united position, instead of conflicting reports,” he added.
The Director emphasised that the Ministry of Justice will work closely with civil society to ensure that perpetrators of human rights abuses are held accountable. This includes strengthening the already established human rights court to deliver justice and promote transparency.
Jacob Atem John, Executive Director of the Community Research Support Program (CRSP), echoed the call for collaboration. He highlighted the importance of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR)—a United Nations mechanism that assesses the human rights records of all member states every four and a half years.
“The UPR is a key process for holding governments accountable,” Jacob said. “But for it to be effective in South Sudan, the Ministry of Justice must actively engage civil society in reporting and response mechanisms.”
Jacob stressed that reports produced solely by government entities may not be taken seriously by international bodies. “When we join hands and speak with one voice, the global community is more likely to listen and support our human rights agenda,” he said.
He further revealed plans to ensure the UPR process becomes widely known across all 13 states and three administrative areas. “We want to have focal points in each region to facilitate documentation and timely reporting from the ground.”
The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Justice, alongside the Deputy Minister and Secretary General. The discussion focused on the need for continuous engagement in the UPR process, which is central to assessing progress and challenges in human rights across all 193 UN member states.
Both government and civil society leaders agreed that consistent cooperation, shared data, and mutual accountability are essential for improving South Sudan’s human rights record and ensuring justice for all.
