JUBA — South Sudan’s Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and a coalition of civil society organizations on Monday pledged to work together to strengthen the human rights landscape to boost access to justice.
Representatives from the Ministry of Justice and a network of civil society organizations held a high-level consultative meeting in Juba aimed at tackling human rights issues in the country.
Speaking during a consultative meeting in Juba on Monday, Director of Human Rights Consul General Majok Dau Kuot said the meeting discussed strategies to address ongoing human rights violations and enhance 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 Dau.
Dau stressed the need to open a new page and work together with a coalition of civil society to enhance the country’s justice system.
“We want to correct this perception by working together—civil society and government—to uphold the rights of our people.”
Dau disputed the reports on justice from various organizations, saying they do 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.
He emphasized the need for the Ministry of Justice to work closely with civil society to ensure perpetrators of human rights abuses are held accountable.
This includes strengthening the already established human rights court to deliver justice and promote transparency, he said.
For his part, Jacob Atem John, Executive Director of the Community Research Support Program (CRSP), 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. But for it to be effective in South Sudan, the Ministry of Justice must actively engage civil society in reporting and response mechanisms,” said Atem.
Atem argued 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.
“We want to have focal points in each region to facilitate documentation and timely reporting from the ground.”
The meeting 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.
